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2013 VIA VTRUX: What It Is, Range, Charging and Power Output

The VIA VTRUX is a plug-in extended-range electric vehicle with battery-first driving and a gasoline range extender. Historical range and export-power claims vary by body style and equipment, so verify the details of any used truck.
Entry977 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The 2013 VIA VTRUX is a plug-in, extended-range electric vehicle (eREV), not a battery-only truck: it drives on battery power first, then an onboard gasoline range extender generates electricity for continued travel. Historical VIA and partner materials put electric range around 35–40 miles, but those figures are not a range guarantee for a used truck. The exact equipment and condition of any individual VTRUX need to be verified.

What is a 2013 VIA VTRUX?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory lists VIA’s VTRUX VR300 as a standard pickup with an estimated model year of 2013. VIA used the VTRUX name for vehicles equipped with its proprietary extended-range electric powertrain. A 2013 announcement from PG&E and VIA described the V-Drive as a 650-volt eREV system designed for full-size trucks and SUVs. PG&E/VIA announcement; DOE/INL vehicle list

VIA and its partners also discussed several body styles. A 2013 auto-show report described a planned lineup that included a four-wheel-drive half-ton pickup based on the Chevrolet Silverado crew cab, a three-quarter-ton cargo van, and a passenger van based on the Chevrolet Express. That report describes plans, not confirmation that every variant entered production or that a specific used truck matches them. 2013 auto-show report

How the VTRUX powertrain works

The VTRUX uses electricity to drive the vehicle. When the battery’s usable charge is depleted, an onboard gasoline generator—also called a range extender—produces electricity so the vehicle can continue traveling. It is therefore different from a conventional pickup whose gasoline engine directly drives the wheels, as well as from a battery-electric truck that has no onboard gasoline range extender. VIA and its fleet partners described this battery-first operating approach in their materials. PG&E/VIA announcement; VIA/Verizon announcement

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Electric range and other published figures

Published range claims vary by source and body style. VIA and Verizon described up to 40 miles of battery-only range for VTRUX vehicles. A VIA van brochure lists 35 miles of all-electric range and 400 miles of extended range; those brochure figures apply to the van, not automatically to a pickup. These are historical company or partner figures, not independent measurements of a surviving 2013 vehicle. VIA/Verizon announcement; VIA van brochure

A 2013 Consumer Reports item attributed 234 horsepower, 306 lb-ft of torque, and 30 mpg after battery depletion to VIA. It also cited payload and towing figures for certain extended-cab, two-wheel-drive versions. Those figures are configuration-specific claims attributed to the company, not independent road-test results or universal specifications for every VTRUX. Consumer Reports, 2013

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  • Flexible Curly Coil Design: Featured with a flexible curly coil design, this RK-39005-15 heavy truck liftgate cable automatically stretches and retracts following liftgate opening and closing cycles. It effectively prevents cable dragging, tangling, abrasion and accidental damage during daily loading and unloading work, greatly improving service durability
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Actual electric range in an individual used vehicle can be affected by battery age, temperature, driving, payload, configuration, and maintenance. The historical published figures do not establish the present condition or performance of any particular truck.

Charging a VIA VTRUX

A VIA brochure for the van lists 120V or 220V charging input and an approximately 22 kWh lithium-ion battery. Those details do not establish the inlet, onboard-charger rating, or charging requirements of every pickup. The available historical documentation also does not verify a specific modern EVSE or connector as compatible with a particular 2013 truck. VIA van brochure

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Road Superior Truck Parts 15 ft Single Pole Coiled Electric Liftgate Charging Cable with 2 x 12" Leads
  • One 15’ coiled, single pole liftgate electric charging cable with 2 x 12” leads. Utilizes a single pole zinc buffalo plug with spring guards on both ends.
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  • Designed to maintain flexibility in temperatures of -85°F (-65°C). Approximate dimensions = 15’ working length Approximate net weight = 5 lbs 8 oz

Before buying charging equipment, identify the vehicle’s actual inlet and confirm its onboard-charger rating and required electrical supply using VIN/build records and direct inspection. A generic 240V Level 2 charger is only a product category to investigate; the published material does not validate a particular charger or plug fit.

Can a VTRUX power tools or a house during an outage?

Some VIA materials describe exportable power hardware rated up to 15 kW, making suitably equipped VTRUX vehicles potential mobile power sources for work sites or emergency response. The VIA van brochure lists an inverter rated up to 15 kW, and a January 2013 Verizon announcement describes an optional 15 kW export power system with 110V or 220V output. These claims do not establish that a given pickup has the hardware, nor do they show that it can safely or directly power a home. VIA van brochure; VIA/Verizon announcement

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Erchon RK-39005-15 15 ft Dual Pole Electric Charging Liftgate Cable
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  • Replacement Part Number: RK-39005-15, RK3900515, 23-2626, 7DV4522MW, 421173. 15 ft cable w/2 × 12 leads. 2 dual-pole plugs with bonded positive and negative conductors. maximum current of 200 Amp, for typical 12-volt intermittent liftgate
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Check the individual truck for installed export-power equipment and its documented output before relying on it for tools or emergency use. A 2012 PG&E statement described the related VIA truck as having the potential to help manage electrical outages; it was a statement of potential, not an evaluation of actual outage performance. PG&E/VIA announcement

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What to verify on a specific used VTRUX

Historical specifications cannot establish the condition, configuration, or supportability of an individual truck. Before buying or planning to operate one, verify:

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  • VIN/build records, body style, chassis, and drivetrain configuration.
  • Battery health and measured electric range, rather than relying on original advertised range.
  • Operation and service history of the gasoline range extender and its electricity-generation system.
  • Charging inlet, onboard-charger rating, and required electrical supply.
  • Whether export-power equipment is installed and its documented output rating.
  • Service history and confirmed availability of compatible parts and qualified service.

The available sources do not establish current parts availability or service support for a particular 2013 pickup, nor do they provide a VIN-specific specification database or authoritative current owner’s manual. Resolve those questions directly before treating a claimed configuration or capability as confirmed.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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