Tesla EV pickup truck!

[Frank Lee]

Are we talking about vans or pickups?

A FWD pickup would just plain suck, if it is to be used as a working vehicle, for example on a farm much of the time off road.

A FWD van or mini-van is a different animal, more likely to be on pavement and more likely to not be as heavily loaded and besides, even with a good load they are still front heavy i.e. the weight is over the drive wheels. The people have voted and FWD mini-vans are O.K.

Speaking of giant FWD vans, what could be gianter than the GMC Motorcoach? I drove one this summer- very nice going down the road but very poor drive traction in less than optimal conditions.



The big GMC could be re-engineered for more weight over the front end though, as could most any van.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Are we talking about vans or pickups?

A FWD pickup would just plain suck, if it is to be used as a working vehicle, for example on a farm much off road.

Yep. And just how much time do you think the average Wrangler spends off road? The average Ferrari spend racing? The average SUV spend sporting or utilitating? The overall market needs a Civic with a coroplast "pickup bed" on the back to prove the driver's manliness.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Are we talking about vans or pickups?

A FWD pickup would just plain suck, if it is to be used as a working vehicle, for example on a farm much of the time off road.

A FWD van or mini-van is a different animal, more likely to be on pavement and more likely to not be as heavily loaded and besides, even with a good load they are still front heavy i.e. the weight is over the drive wheels. The people have voted and FWD mini-vans are O.K.

Is there anything wrong about taking a van frame as a reference for the development of a pickup frame? Since the frame of the Ram ProMaster is fully-capable for the hauling needs of most pickup owners, and has a lighter layout than the usual for the American-designed pickups and vans, it may be a solution to equate the need for a fully-capable frame while still providing enhanced efficiency due to its lighter layout.

Regarding the weight over the drive wheels, it's not impossible to fit hub-motors at the rear axle in a front-wheel drive frame to provide the required traction under load

[Frank Lee]

Lighter pretty much equals less towing capacity. This is a market segment where towing capacity = bragging rights = how big your reproductive unit is, whether or not any actual towing ever happens.

Until gas hits $10/gal in the U.S.A. don't expect anything to change much.

[twinair]

Originally Posted by bikenfool

According to this:
italiaspeed.com: FIAT DUCATO X250
The Cd is 0.315. Of course the frontal area is huge.

That's better than what I thought. I'm sure if the pick-up version came with an aero-cap, it would have a lower Cd than the van.

At least, if Chrysler wouldn't see any US-market-potential for the Ducato they wouldn't sell it in the first place.

So back to topic: If Tesla chose to manufacture a pick-up, it could design one with a flatter/rounder nose and provide it with an easily removable aerocap in order to increase range (as areodrag would have a significant influence on vehicle-costs, since battery-capacity is much more expensive than just a bigger gasoline tank).
Keep in mind the Tesla S has a Cd of only 0.24 and a relatively small frontal area compared to a pick-up truck.
The battery of the much smaller Tesla Roadster apparently costs $40'000: link
So, I doubt that a F-150 type EV-pick-up design and curbweight is a cost effective and sellable option.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Lighter pretty much equals less towing capacity. This is a market segment where towing capacity = bragging rights = how big your reproductive unit is, whether or not any actual towing ever happens.

A lighter frame is still viable, considering the weight increasement inherent to the battery packs.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Lighter pretty much equals less towing capacity.

Can't see why that would necessarily be so. Look at the weight of a semi cab pulling doubles, or an over-weight piece of construction equipment.

[Frank Lee]

Sure, but the hitching and braking systems need to be well coordinated.

I could have a 302 in a Ranger and an identical one in an F150, and I'd wager that F150 could safely tow more because it will be more able to tell the trailer what to do instead of the trailer telling the truck what it wants to do.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Sure the weight distribution over the axles is important, no wonder some vehicles have better towing capacities with different arrangements. And the brake setup in a trailer should also be taken into account.

[Saskwatchian]

I doubt that someone else jumping in with both feet will affect Tesla as much as the author thinks but here is a new development:

Did Tesla Just Lose the Battle for Electric Trucks? - DailyFinance

To me it makes sense, GM based trucks for the commercial market and Tesla trucks for the private luxury truck segment of the market.

On the subject of how the truck should look my personal opinion is it should be loosely based on the (non North American) Ford Ranger. I have driven a ranger in Australia and it's a very nice "mid-sized" truck with full-sized capacities.

I am never going to be in the market for something like this but I would think that if it's going to sell in North America it needs power going to the rear wheels. I mean it is going to be a luxury work vehicle and luxury buyers want what they want. I can't see FWD going forward in this market, especially it it is also supposed to be a sporty truck.