Battery based electric vehicles of today and tomorrow.

Buggs67 · Dec 15, 2021

When talking about Electric Pickup I'd think Tesla would have a huge advantage. I tht their drawing of a pickup was ugly I don't know why most mfgs are sticking with the traditional pickup design. I'd like a design like the old Jeep FC models. And I'm not interested in lightning acceleration. But maybe that just goes hand in hand with the electric design?

Most of this is simply theory and watching from the sidelines since I will probably never NEED a new vehicle again. And I'm so practical that I can't see me buying a $70k+ pickup to use 2K+ miles per year.

Again, if they came up with an electric or hybrid vehicle like my 02 Miata in both looks and handling I'd trade in my old friend. Or just add a new stud to the stable.

Agvg · Dec 15, 2021

This was interesting

https://electricbrands.de/en/myxbus

PuffyC · Dec 15, 2021

Agvg said:
This was interesting

https://electricbrands.de/en/myxbus

The much lower barrier to entry for EVs will enable a lot of new new ideas about what a vehicle should be, much like with the Rivian. I can see something like the Xbus being an ideal urban utility vehicle.

Gale Hawkins · Dec 15, 2021

Hay Dude said:
When it comes to larger than 1/2 ton trucks, wouldn’t hybrids be a better answer?
Small engine recharges batteries? Comparable range to existing ICEVs?
Like if you took my Ram 5500, put motors on all 4 wheels, a battery pack and smaller, low emissions “recharging engine” under the hood together? That would dramatically lower tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption and no sacrifice in range or power?
Or would that not be feasible?

In doing some more reading this morning I have yet to see a clear Way Forward for trucks greater than half ton to be battery powered.

I'm sure it's going to happen someday but right now Tesla is not wanting to build semis because they can build five or six or seven cars for the same amount of battery so obviously there's more margin a profit in selling that many cars than one truck.

ning · Dec 15, 2021

airbiscuit said:
I too have wondered about a small super clean diesel running at constant/optimal RPM to be an EV range extender/ emergency "safe mode". It would basically be an EV with a piggyback generator. For trips of 2/3 or less of the range, it wold still be a pure EV. For extended travel or emergency use, it would utilize a 10-20 hp dino fuel engine as a supplement.

Seems pretty ideal to me, especially if it can run unattended to recharge the batteries while the vehicle is stopped/not in use/loading etc.

Larry Caldwell · Dec 15, 2021

Gale Hawkins said:
In doing some more reading this morning I have yet to see a clear Way Forward for trucks greater than half ton to be battery powered.

I'm sure it's going to happen someday but right now Tesla is not wanting to build semis because they can build five or six or seven cars for the same amount of battery so obviously there's more margin a profit in selling that many cars than one truck.

I can see local electric powered delivery trucks, but not long haul. One thing that might help is if businesses had to have charging stations at their loading docks. One of the irritating things to truckers is the hours they spend waiting to get loaded or unloaded, which could double as charging time. However, a 300 mile range means local trucking only.

metalbender · Dec 15, 2021

I can imagine a mile long freight train hauling containers. Each flatcar having a battery in its lower construction powering the control units. When this non polluting assembly goes off the rails, the resulting fire will be like the second coming. No access in remote areas where the majority of derailments occur. From non polluting to a black sky event.

Hay Dude · Dec 15, 2021

Fleets of Electric trucks were used in cities 100 years ago.
Nothing new.
Makes a lot of sense in crowded urban areas where air pollution is concentrated