6 ms·

I'll wait till I hear they have a model actually moving to production. The big oems across the board have been great at convincing people they are looking towa

I'll wait till I hear they have a model actually moving to production. The big oems across the board have been great at convincing people they are looking toward future tech while only releasing new combustion pickup truck and SUV models. They want the excitement for the investors and public that electrification brings but they also want to sell super simple 50 year old V8 motors in body-on-frame trucks, something has to give. The 2018 auto show is a great example, the big three refreshed all of their pickup models without any news on production or prototype ev's. The "investments" dont mean much if they are minuscule compared to combustion development. Granted its what people are buying right now but they are not really putting any compelling alternatives out in the market.

vvanders 9y ago
I wouldn't got that far on the truck front, in fact Ford just announced a V6 Turbo Diesel half-ton that should get 30MPG(the Dodge equivalent EcoDiesel already sees 28-30mpg in real-world scenarios). You're not going to see a truck that will fill that role as pure EV for a long while(and I say that as a Model S owner). Agreed on the announce-but-not-build front. VW did the same but seems like GM is the only one following through.
- bischofs 9y ago
  I see your point with electric pickup trucks, they will probably be the last to convert. Also I would point out that 3.0 ford engine you are referring to has been around since 2009 as the lion engine in various international markets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17 It probably has a different calibration for the US market to meet stricter emissions but that's about it.
  - vvanders 9y ago
    Oh yeah, totally. The EcoDeisel is the same case(Fiat engine from Europe). I'm just happy to see more efficient engines making it into the US. The fact that you can have a vehicle that will tow 8k GW but get 30mpg unloaded is fantastic. The X can tow 6k GW but range really tanks so it's okay for short hops but usually when you're towing you're going to be driving > 200mi.
  - Robotbeat 9y ago
    I don't see that point. About 15-20 years ago, pickups were the go-to vehicle for DIY electric conversions (particularly the Chevy S-10). You could put the heavy lead-acid batteries under the bed and therefore lose no space. There's no fundamental reason why trucks are less likely to electrify than other vehicles. In fact, the greater fuel savings makes it seem even more likely. The only thing standing in the way is that some people who buy pickups are part of the idiotic anti-environment movement that likes to "roll coal" (i.e. modify their trucks to spew black smoke). But not everyone who buys pickups is like this, which is why fuel-efficient pickups are a thing. The torque and power of the electric drivetrain make it possible to make an insanely good truck. It'll happen sooner than you think, certainly before 2022.
    - TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
      So if I buy a new all electric ute (that's what we call them in Australia: a utility vehicle or 'ute' for short), put a 1000kg load in it the back, then attached my 1500kg tool trailer, and drive up and down the hilly Tasmanian terrain... How much range am I going to get? That's the one factor that will keep the turbo diesel engine in utility and commercial vehicles for longer.
      - ljf 9y ago
        Not claiming otherwise, but I'd be interested to know what a normal days mileage looks like for you?
      - Robotbeat 9y ago
        > ... up and down the hilly Tasmanian terrain... > How much range am I going to get? For the same energy-cost, you'll get a LOT more range out of the electric ute. Electric trucks make MORE sense in hilly regions due to regen braking making a much bigger difference than flat regions and due to the lack of brake wear.
    - YSFEJ4SWJUVU6 9y ago
      >There's no fundamental reason why trucks are less likely to electrify than other vehicles. In fact, the greater fuel savings makes it seem even more likely. Energy requirements between commuter and heavy-duty commercial vehicles differ substantially, and batteries are of course the biggest hurdle against full electrification. Light trucks could probably mirror SUV development, at least for part of the market. If they won't, it's probably due to demand side of the equation.
- jacquesm 9y ago
  Volkswagen has the e-golf in production.
  - gsnedders 9y ago
    And e-up!.

vvanders 9y ago

I wouldn't got that far on the truck front, in fact Ford just announced a V6 Turbo Diesel half-ton that should get 30MPG(the Dodge equivalent EcoDiesel already sees 28-30mpg in real-world scenarios). You're not going to see a truck that will fill that role as pure EV for a long while(and I say that as a Model S owner). Agreed on the announce-but-not-build front. VW did the same but seems like GM is the only one following through.

bischofs 9y ago
I see your point with electric pickup trucks, they will probably be the last to convert. Also I would point out that 3.0 ford engine you are referring to has been around since 2009 as the lion engine in various international markets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17 It probably has a different calibration for the US market to meet stricter emissions but that's about it.
- vvanders 9y ago
  Oh yeah, totally. The EcoDeisel is the same case(Fiat engine from Europe). I'm just happy to see more efficient engines making it into the US. The fact that you can have a vehicle that will tow 8k GW but get 30mpg unloaded is fantastic. The X can tow 6k GW but range really tanks so it's okay for short hops but usually when you're towing you're going to be driving > 200mi.
- Robotbeat 9y ago
  I don't see that point. About 15-20 years ago, pickups were the go-to vehicle for DIY electric conversions (particularly the Chevy S-10). You could put the heavy lead-acid batteries under the bed and therefore lose no space. There's no fundamental reason why trucks are less likely to electrify than other vehicles. In fact, the greater fuel savings makes it seem even more likely. The only thing standing in the way is that some people who buy pickups are part of the idiotic anti-environment movement that likes to "roll coal" (i.e. modify their trucks to spew black smoke). But not everyone who buys pickups is like this, which is why fuel-efficient pickups are a thing. The torque and power of the electric drivetrain make it possible to make an insanely good truck. It'll happen sooner than you think, certainly before 2022.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
    So if I buy a new all electric ute (that's what we call them in Australia: a utility vehicle or 'ute' for short), put a 1000kg load in it the back, then attached my 1500kg tool trailer, and drive up and down the hilly Tasmanian terrain... How much range am I going to get? That's the one factor that will keep the turbo diesel engine in utility and commercial vehicles for longer.
    - ljf 9y ago
      Not claiming otherwise, but I'd be interested to know what a normal days mileage looks like for you?
    - Robotbeat 9y ago
      > ... up and down the hilly Tasmanian terrain... > How much range am I going to get? For the same energy-cost, you'll get a LOT more range out of the electric ute. Electric trucks make MORE sense in hilly regions due to regen braking making a much bigger difference than flat regions and due to the lack of brake wear.
  - YSFEJ4SWJUVU6 9y ago
    >There's no fundamental reason why trucks are less likely to electrify than other vehicles. In fact, the greater fuel savings makes it seem even more likely. Energy requirements between commuter and heavy-duty commercial vehicles differ substantially, and batteries are of course the biggest hurdle against full electrification. Light trucks could probably mirror SUV development, at least for part of the market. If they won't, it's probably due to demand side of the equation.
jacquesm 9y ago
Volkswagen has the e-golf in production.
- gsnedders 9y ago
  And e-up!.