Isuzu Announces Class 5 EV at Work Truck Week

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America announced its first all-electric production model, the N-Series EV at Work Truck Week 2023.

The 2025-model-year Class 5 truck will be available in the first half of 2024. It features:

•  A full 19,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating.
• A battery electric platform developed by Isuzu Motors Limited.
• An all-new cab design.

“The N-Series EV is a game-changer, not only for us but for our dealers and our customers,” said Shaun C. Skinner, president, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada.

“We have always prided ourselves on offering a variety of powertrains to meet the needs of our owners. As we look at the regulatory landscape ahead of us, we know that the demand for a medium-duty trucks powered by electricity is going to increase dramatically. And we will be ready, with the first electric production Class 5 low cab forward truck in the U.S. and Canadian marketplace,” Skinner added.

N-Series EV Features

The N-Series EV will also be available in Japan. This marks the first time that a new Isuzu model has been introduced simultaneously in three markets Japan, The United States, and Canada.

Among the features of the 2025 NRR EV:

• A full 19,500-pound GVWR to handle your tough Class 5 demands.
• Wheelbases ranging from 132.5 to 176 inches to accommodate a variety of body lengths.
• Standard cab design.
• Four choices of battery capacity, the largest of which has a range of up to 235 miles.
• DC Fast Charging and AC (Level 2) charging capability.
• An optional Advanced Driver Assistance System package designed to improve driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety and to help reduce the number and severity of collisions.
• A new cab, inside and out, engineered from the ground up to increase driver safety and comfort.

The truck is scheduled to be assembled in the United States for sale in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Electric Powertrain

Every N-Series EV will be powered by several 20-kilowatt-hour, lithium-ion battery packs. Compared to conventional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries:

• Store more energy in less space.
• Are lighter.
• last much longer.
• Don’t require traditional maintenance.

Customers will be able to choose from three-, five-, seven-, and nine-battery-pack models. All else being equal, the more battery packs, the longer the driving range.

By offering four configurations, Isuzu will allow buyers to choose the combination that’s best for their business.

For ease of charging, all N-Series EV models will be equipped with charging ports that accommodate the most popular charging connectors in the U.S. and Canada:

• DC charging (CCS1).
• AC charging (J1772).

To accommodate their multiple battery packs and to provide reasonable charging times, N-Series EV trucks, with battery capacities of 60, 100, 140, and 180 kWh, will have an AC Level 2 charging time range from 5.5 to 10 hours and a DC Fast Charging time range from 1 to 2.5 hours.

Depending upon the number of battery packs, N-Series EV trucks will have driving ranges from 41 to 235 miles:

• Three battery packs (60 kWh capacity): 41-80 miles.
• Five battery packs (100 kWh capacity): 68-130 miles.
• Seven battery packs (140 kWh capacity): 95-180 miles.
• Nine battery packs (180 kWh capacity): 122-235 miles.

With reliable, durable battery power, fast charging times, excellent driving range, and an array of wheelbases, the N-Series EV makes the electric choice an easy choice.

The company noted that all figures are calculated estimates, based on a fully charged battery, and for comparison purposes only. “Battery capacity decreases with time and use,” said Skinner.

“A truck’s actual range will vary based on several factors, including several battery packs, vehicle options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle, and battery’s condition, and outside temperature,” he added.

New Cab Design

The 2025 N-Series EV will feature a redesigned cab with revised exterior styling and an all-new interior. It will be the first truck to feature Isuzu’s global “Cross Flow” design language that will eventually be applied to all Isuzu trucks in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Exterior

A lighted Isuzu badge on the front panel is the most obvious sign that this is a new design. But there’s much more.

• The striking new grille continues the “smile” theme of previous generations as it directs the flow of air around the sides of the cab.
• The all-new headlamp assembly employs bright, long-lasting, energy-efficient LED clearance lights, turn signals, high and low beams, and side marker lights.
• A newly designed front bumper improves cooling performance while reducing repair costs.

Interior

The interior of the cab has been thoughtfully designed with driver comfort, convenience, and safety in mind.

• Driver and outboard frontal passenger airbags, designed as supplemental protection to work in combination with the seatbelts, will be standard on every Isuzu N-Series EV.
• The steering wheel’s position and angle have been changed to provide a better fit than previous N-Series cabs for a wider variety of drivers. Its smaller diameter means easier handling.
• The steering wheel hub will contain switches that operate the Multi-Information Display, audio system, cruise control, hands-free phone calling, and more.
• The new seven-inch color Multi-Information Display will be standard equipment on every N-Series EV, and will house warning lights; status indicators of driver-assistance features; time and temperature displays; odometer; fuel gauge; shift position indicator, and more. Drivers can choose from English, French, and Spanish as the display language.

Other new interior features include:

• Auto-on/off headlamps.
• Electrically operated climate controls.
• Variable intermittent windshield wipers.
• Electronic parking brake.
• Driver’s seat armrest.

All N-Series EV models will offer three-across seating. Seats will feature new urethane cushions and upholstery.

The driver’s seat back will be 30 millimeters higher than prior N-Series seats to accommodate taller drivers, and both driver and outboard passengers’ hip points have been lowered 10 millimeters for a better seating position.

New Advanced Driver Assistance System

Isuzu introduced an optional Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) on 2022i N-Series diesel models.

The 2025 N-Series EV will take driver assistance, convenience, and peace of mind to new levels with the revised Advance Driver Assistance System package.

This optional suite of features includes Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning Systems, which are part of the current N-Series diesel ADAS package.

Full-Range Adaptive Cruise Control (“ACC”) improves on the current ACC feature with its ability to bring the truck to a complete stop and then return it to its originally set speed once the driver depresses the accelerator again.

The N-Series EV’s optional ADAS package will also include:

• Distance Alert System
  • Notifies the driver when the front of the Isuzu truck is within a certain distance of the vehicle ahead
  • Visual and audible alerts on MID
• Forward Vehicle Start Notification
  • From a stop, notifies the driver when the vehicle in front of the Isuzu truck has moved forward a certain distance (at a traffic light or stop sign, for example)
  • Visual and audible alerts on MID
• Mis-acceleration Mitigation
  • When starting to move from a stop, if an obstacle in front of the Isuzu truck is detected and the accelerator is depressed more than necessary, engine output will be restricted.
  • Helps prevent or lessen the severity of accidents caused by mistaken accelerator pedal depression

Part of a Complete Line of Isuzu Trucks

The NRR EV will join a complete line of Isuzu medium-duty low-cab-forward trucks, including Class 3, 4, and 5 N-Series models powered by a 6.6-liter gasoline V8; Class 4 and 5 N-Series models featuring Isuzu’s famous 4HK1-TC turbodiesel; and the mighty Class 6 and 7 F-Series models with the Cummins B6.7 diesel under the cab.

“With the addition of the NRR EV to our lineup, Isuzu will offer the most diverse range of engines and fuel sources in our history,” Skinner said. “By giving our customers a choice of power, we are giving them the power of choice.” 

The Isuzu lineup includes Standard Cab and Crew Cab Class 3 through 5 gasoline-powered trucks and Class 4 and 5 diesel-powered models. Isuzu’s new F-Series Class 6 and 7 models, powered by the Cummins B6.7 diesel engine, are available in Standard Cab configuration only.

“All of our trucks have been designed, engineered, and built to the same exacting standards as our award-winning NQR Crew Cab,” said Skinner. “We believe customers will enjoy superior retained value no matter which Isuzu model they choose.”