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From an engineering standpoint it seems like it is just a weight and packaging problem to me. The Pacifica PHEV weighs about 5,000lbs depending on configuratio

From an engineering standpoint it seems like it is just a weight and packaging problem to me. The Pacifica PHEV weighs about 5,000lbs depending on configuration. I think the only deficit it really has to the Model X is drag co-efficient but Chrysler was working with a given shape. Given a unique platform not shared with a gas variant they could design for a specific co-efficient as needed. I don't really know the specs of the Model X, however Google says it weighs maybe 300lbs more than the Pacifica. Those aren't unsurmountable differences - especially if the price range is going to be 80k+. I think the biggest difference is that Tesla knows it won't sell enough vans to make it worth their development time :)

semi-extrinsic 9y ago
> I think the only deficit it really has to the Model X is drag co-efficient No, the projected area is also worse. Air resistance is proportional to drag coefficient multiplied by projected area. Since both are worse, the best estimates I could find is that the Pacifica has almost twice the overall air resistance of a Model X. It's not as bad as the 6x difference between a Model S and a Ford Transit, but it would still mean almost half the range at a given battery capacity. Conversely, an electric Pacifica with the range of a Model X would be about 1000 lbs heavier.