Plug-in hybrids already juggle a lot of moving parts. Pair a gas engine with an electric motor and a battery, and you get a truck that is complicated to build and maintain. Now imagine swapping that gas engine for a diesel. That is exactly what Cheryhas done with the Stockman, which the company is calling the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup truck. The idea is not brand new. About a decade ago, Volvotried a diesel plug-in hybrid and dropped it after a few years. Running a diesel in short bursts, the way a plug-in hybrid tends to do around town, is not good for the engine. Even so, Mercedes-Benzstill offers diesel PHEVs in Europe, so the concept is not dead. Chery thinks it can make the setup work in a truck.
Built for Australia, Not China
Like a lot of electrified vehicle news these days, this one comes out of China, but it was not built for the Chinese market. The Stockman is a mid-size pickup developed specifically for Australia, where long road trips, heavy towing, and rising fuel prices all shape what buyers want. Pickups make up a significant share of new car sales there, with light commercial vehicles representing roughly 18 to 25 percent of the total market depending on the month, and utes dominating that category, so the competition is fierce. The Stockman will square off against the ToyotaHilux, the FordRanger, and the Mitsubishi Triton, plus the gas plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6.
The Numbers That Matter to Off-Roaders
On paper the hardware looks serious. The Stockman gets a proper four-wheel drive system with three locking differentials, a low-range transfer case, and leaf spring rear suspension. Maximum towing capacity is listed at 7,716 pounds, which puts it in line with the segment leaders. Power comes from a 2.5-liter twin-turbo diesel paired with an electric motor for a combined 469 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Chery claims fuel economy of 117.6 mpg, but that figure only holds when the battery is fully charged, though Chery has not confirmed the battery’s capacity, with estimates placing it at around 30 kilowatt-hours. Electric-only range is rated at 62 miles on the NEDC cycle, which works out to roughly 45 miles on the tougher EPA cycle. Chery has not explained exactly how the electric motor ties into the driveline, though the traditional 4WD layout suggests the motor sits between the engine and the automatic transmission, which usually means higher losses. Inside, buyers get heated and ventilated front seats, leather, dual-zone climate control, a premium sound system, two large screens, and a head-up display. There is also vehicle-to-load capability, with a pair of household outlets in the bed pulling power from the high-voltage battery. That is a handy feature at a campsite or a worksite. The bigger question is reliability. Like any modern diesel, the Stockman uses diesel exhaust fluid to control emissions, and those pumps and lines can clog over time, especially if the engine sits idle for weeks while the truck runs on battery power alone. Price and long-term durability will decide whether this complicated setup earns a following. For now, the Stockman is expected to reach Australian dealers soon.