New Rivian electric pickup

[airbiscuit]

I would estimate that when an electric car, or pickup, can run without stopping for 12 hours +, it will become mainstream.
The horseless carriage also was a joke, in it's infancy.

Technology will continue its ruthless advances. I can see a time when farm buildings will have solar arrays on their massive roofs to power their operations. Even the tractors will be electric as battery technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, and self driving drones will deliver freshly charged battery packs to the fields for quick change outs.

The horse became obsolete in a generation.

 

[MossRoad]

looking further, i cant find a tesla that doesn't use a differential. the motor or motors power differentials between the left and right sides.

 

[airbiscuit]

Coal Power! :duh:

RIP dirty coal. We're all better off with natural gas and renewables :cloud9:

 

[zoedog2012]

From:
Morgan Stanley: Electric pickup from Tesla or Rivian is 'serious problem' for Detroit

It appears to have a rifle compartment.

View attachment 594125


Bruce

Maybe a place for extension cords?

 

[dodge man]

That compartment in back is where you store the fuel for the generator you put in the bed of the pickup. I once looked at electric cars and the range was very limited. Where I live is somewhere between 60 and 120 miles from more major towns where we would often go to shop. A lot of electrics wouldn't make it there and back for range. Tesla's seemed to have the best range when I checked. There are a couple of Tesla owners in my town and they bring their cars to the local cruise night, which is kind of an informal car show. One guy stands there and acts like he is a salesman for Tesla. They are really nice cars, more of a luxury car.

 

[KennyG]

I didn't say it would be impossible, I said it would be hard. What's the price tag of that race car?

Most 1000 HP sports cars are fairly expensive, but I don't think the wheel motors are a major part of it. There is a bit of an expense in having 4 motors instead of 1 or 2, but there are great advantages in the long run. Most of the 4WD electrics that are based on existing gas powered platforms are looking toward two motors instead of one so the front rear torque split can be electronically controlled and avoid a mechanical drive.

Once you have traction control and stability control (which are very common these days) you have all the signals you need for 4 wheel control and it's just a matter of software (and the extra cost of 4 small motors instead of 1 or 2 big ones.) For 4WD that efficiency advantages are clear. Whereas the existing systems apply the brakes for traction and stability control, the wheel motor system can just vary the power to the wheels.

I'm not sure that this particular truck is a game changer, but having had a couple of hybrid cars, it's pretty clear to me that electric drive is not going away.

 

[cqaigy2]

Probably OK if you live and remain in an urban environment.

Where most of the current pickup truck owners live anyway.

 

[MossRoad]

Most 1000 HP sports cars are fairly expensive, but I don't think the wheel motors are a major part of it. There is a bit of an expense in having 4 motors instead of 1 or 2, but there are great advantages in the long run. Most of the 4WD electrics that are based on existing gas powered platforms are looking toward two motors instead of one so the front rear torque split can be electronically controlled and avoid a mechanical drive.

Once you have traction control and stability control (which are very common these days) you have all the signals you need for 4 wheel control and it's just a matter of software (and the extra cost of 4 small motors instead of 1 or 2 big ones.) For 4WD that efficiency advantages are clear. Whereas the existing systems apply the brakes for traction and stability control, the wheel motor system can just vary the power to the wheels.

I'm not sure that this particular truck is a game changer, but having had a couple of hybrid cars, it's pretty clear to me that electric drive is not going away.

That race car 4 motor tech says something about 4-5 years out still for production vehicles. The current ones are 3 motors. One on the rear differential and one on each front wheel.

 

[vvanders]

looking further, i cant find a tesla that doesn't use a differential. the motor or motors power differentials between the left and right sides.

They use an open differential w/ electric brake control per wheel to limit the slip.

Interesting truck, I'd love to see a diesel electric truck. All the benefits of EVs with the upside of being able to tune the motor for a fixed rpm.

Still given the number of pavement princesses I see out there I'm sure there's a decent market for a no-towing truck.

 

[KennyG]

The article claims 11,000 lb towing capacity. I'm a little skeptical about that, but there won't be a power limitation. There should be a good market for electrics in local delivery and service applications. That's a pretty big market.