2020's bad bakkies and battery lies

• In the haste for battery bakkies, truth was in short supply. 
• GM showed deep naivety with its battery bakkie partner.
• Mercedes-Benz was forced to admit failure. 
• For more motoring stories, go to Wheels24.

America is leading the battery vehicle revolution with Tesla - the first successful electric car company.

Although battery cars project an image of sustainability, they also need to make money, and that means building bakkies.

American brands Bollinger, Rivian, Lordstown, Tesla have impressive double-cab bakkies that are powered by batteries, which are ready to be deployed soon.

The battery bakkie market looks exciting, allowing designers to repackage utility vehicles with vast amounts of ground clearance and a lower centre of gravity.

But the battery bakkie market has also generated one of the most unpleasant instances of automotive dishonesty in 2020.