Tesla EV pickup truck!

[wheelbender6]

Ram (formerly Dodge Ram) is offering a turbo v6 diesel in the 1500 pickup in 2014. That's a bit smaller than the Cummins and should idle quieter. I believe Jeep is offering the same diesel in the 2014 Grand Cherokee. The diesel is not standard equipment in either vehicle, so it will cost you a few grand.

[redpoint5]

Back to the original topic, I don't see how an electric truck would be practical for those actually using them for truck purposes. Contractors would want something able to go longer distances, to other work sites. People that want to haul toys often go long distances and climb steep grades.

What this really sounds like is a truck for those that like to commute in a truck, but don't want to appear guilty of crimes against mother earth.

Originally Posted by wheelbender6

Ram (formerly Dodge Ram) is offering a turbo v6 diesel in the 1500 pickup in 2014. That's a bit smaller than the Cummins and should idle quieter. I believe Jeep is offering the same diesel in the 2014 Grand Cherokee. The diesel is not standard equipment in either vehicle, so it will cost you a few grand.

I've been following those threads, but a 1500 is still a large truck, and any new vehicles will have particulate filters, catalysts, urea tanks, etc, etc bolted on to them. It's a move in the right direction, but I won't be a buyer. I'm not a fan of any of the big 3 trucks, I just happened get my truck very cheaply at state auction. I'd especially stay away from Jeep, and have been relieved now that my Liberty is sold and gone.

All diesels nowadays are quieter than my pre-common-rail rattle can. My truck of choice based on what is offered now in the US would be a 2003 Cummins. It had common-rail, but did not have any of the emission stuff that is now required.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

What this really sounds like is a truck for those that like to commute in a truck, but don't want to appear guilty of crimes against mother earth.

That's what it looks like.

While they're more efficient with electric drive, it all boils down to how clean your electricity really is.

My truck of choice based on what is offered now in the US would be a 2003 Cummins. It had common-rail, but did not have any of the emission stuff that is now required.

While it may be seen as more polluting, it's actually less poisoning.

None of the particulate filters really filter or eliminate the soot.
They all make the particles smaller, and thus more harmful.
Plus you can run into a $h!tload of troubles with them.

Usually we tend to repeat the US's errors in Europe.
This is your chance NOT to repeat ours : don't buy into the clean-diesel lies !

[twinair]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

1. The Iveco Daily is not offered in the US. That means Americans have to purchase something that is available for purchase.

It doesn't have to be an Iveco Daily. I just wanted to say that an Iveco Daily type pick-up would be more practical. An American company (Tesla) could also produce a truck without a gigantic snout/grille. This has no influence on price.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

3. The Iveco Daily is tow rated at 3500kg. The Dodge Ram 2500 diesel is rated at 8164kg.

Besides that it is also available as a tractor unit with a higher towing capacity:

The cargo capacity of the Daily goes up to 4200 kg.
For people who actually need such a vehicle for work purposes, it is more important than the towing capacity.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

4. The Iveco Daily looks sissy. Americans think of vehicles as an extension of their style and personality. Even as a work truck, Americans don't want to be seen as sissy.

Americans with a complex could buy a truck that looks like this Daily version:

Originally Posted by redpoint5

5. People tend to buy as much power as they can afford. This is true of people in any country. If Europe enjoyed fuel prices as low as Americans, they would be driving wildly inefficient vehicles.

Switzerland has a significantly higher GDP per capita than the US. Yet, I don't see many pick up trucks. Or if I do they look like this with construction workers driving it:

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Back to the original topic, I don't see how an electric truck would be practical for those actually using them for truck purposes.

I also wonder what merits an electric truck would have.
This company is selling 18 ton electric trucks: E-FORCE
And it is currently being used by a brewery and a grocery chain.
At least there are some applications where an electric truck can be useful.

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by twinair

I didn't necessarily want to criticize Americans, I just wanted to point out that if one wanted to build an electrified Pick-up truck, it should rather be built like an Iveco Daily than a Ford F-150.

After all there are construction workers, gardeners, farmers, snowploughers etc. who can benefit from a pick-up truck, but none of them would need a F-Series type of pick-up truck. If you buy a car for your business you want this tool to maximize benefits and minimize costs (more space, more payload and low fuel consumption) and don't usually care about appeal.
Oh well, I guess the question would be: How can you make a pick-up truck appealing to a 'cowboy' without having to build a car with a long snout and a gigantic grille.

Or if you prefer, a 1960s Ford Falcon pickup.

I love these old trucks. But the driveway's full! TMP!

[P-hack]

Still, for %99.999 of truck owners, a trailer hitch on an efficient car would be way better. Single occupant over-sized, under-utilized bricks with relatively tiny payloads are already everywhere.

[renault_megane_dci]

About the towing differences between Europe and American trucks, it is not about their abilities but about the regulations of their native market.
In Europe, anything over 3.5 tons require a dedicated license.
So manufacturers optimise their vehicle based on this regulation.

Bigger US trucks should compare to actual trucks (wich speed is limited to 70 mph too)

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by brucey

With luxury pick ups, I can't help but think of the blackwood:

Lincoln Blackwood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vomit me an ocean...
Why even bother?
That has to be the pickup most likely to do the least amount of actual truck work of any truck on the market.

[oil pan 4]

This is the problem with a battery powered vehicle pulling a trailer up a hill:

Power needed to get over hills, power you lose with elevation - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

Ignore the part about the thin air.
A truck pulling a trailer up a 5% grade could easily require 150 horse power just to maintain speed. Now an electric motor can easily produce that kind of power and likely be able to keep cool but the batteries putting out over .1 mega watts for an extended period of time and then going on to another hill or finishing the trip is where my doubts are.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by euromodder

While it may be seen as more polluting, it's actually less poisoning.

None of the particulate filters really filter or eliminate the soot.
They all make the particles smaller, and thus more harmful.
Plus you can run into a $h!tload of troubles with them.

Usually we tend to repeat the US's errors in Europe.
This is your chance NOT to repeat ours : don't buy into the clean-diesel lies !

Agreed, I like my DPM big enough to see.

If you can see it, smell it or taste it that means it not getting deep down inside your lungs.