Electric Pickup Truck?

[NissanSkylineN1]

Hey guys,
I was watching last night's episode of VICE on HBO and the global warming part of it got me thinking:

What about an electric pickup truck?

The benefits of an electric motor is that it produces a lot of torque, and mainly pickup trucks are used for hauling, etc. So why not make an electric pickup truck? Sure it would be expensive, but it would sell well to governments, as well as people who need lots of torque. However, it will be costly.

Ideas, suggestions or comments? Discuss.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Actually, you're not alone in wondering about this. Elon Musk also likes the sound of an electric pickup, but I'm not sure if he'll actually build it. It is indeed a good idea, and I'd love to see an electric ute.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Batteries are not good enough yet for this kind of thing. They may never be.

 

[Slash]

No No No No No No No.


That goes against everything that ever defined a pickup truck, no matter how economical.


Not for me.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

No No No No No No No.


That goes against everything that ever defined a pickup truck, no matter how economical.


Not for me.

Its also cleaner for the air. Things change.

 

[Slash]

Its also cleaner for the air. Things change.

I know it's cleaner for the air, but to me, it just is wrong.

Personal preference.

 

[Antonisbob]

Nope, no way the batteries could tow 7,000 LBS all day & night, or turn 44's in the mud for more than an hour. Power demand for trailer accessories and winches too might cause a problem because either way if the winch was mechanical (Engine driven) or electrical it would still need... electricity.

 

[Slash]

Nope, no way the batteries could tow 7,000 LBS all day & night, or turn 44's in the mud for more than an hour. Power demand for trailer accessories and winches too might cause a problem because either way if the winch was mechanical (Engine driven) or electrical it would still need... electricity.

7,000lbs?

Try 37,000lbs.

In a 6.9L 3/4 ton truck. That's 27 years old. At highway speeds. No problem.

When it can do this, come talk to me.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

A series hybrid (like a diesel electric locomotive) could work, but then you're still using fuel.

20,000+hp, 480,000+ lbs from the traction drive (electric motors)

 

[Dennisch]

Things like this will start popping up as soon as someone invents a battery that is high power, and has tremendous range. And it doesn't weigh 1000kg. But as long as the batteries stay poop as they are now, all hail fuel engines.

 

[Joey D]

Electric pick-up? Sure I'd buy one if I had the need for a truck, electric motors are very torquey.

 

[playnthru]

Diesel, or in this case gasoline, plus some hybrid techNOlogy http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03/electric-trucks-may-shift-ev-perceptions.html.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

A few years back, Dodge made an electric Ram concept. Or maybe Cadillac did. Hell I don't remember.

The torque aspect of the electric motor would be good, but I'm not so sure an electric motor would be very durable to the extreme loads that diesels and even gasoline engines manage with just fine.

 

[RocZX]

Both Ford and Chevy had production EV pickup trucks

Ford Ranger EV

Chevy S-10 EV

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

A few years back, Dodge made an electric Ram concept. Or maybe Cadillac did. Hell I don't remember.

The torque aspect of the electric motor would be good, but I'm not so sure an electric motor would be very durable to the extreme loads that diesels and even gasoline engines manage with just fine.

Again...not durable?? Extreme loads?

 

[Tornado]

While I do question how reliable an automotive electric drivetrain as we've seen so far would be in a vehicle where the rigors of daily use can be much tougher than a passenger car, I'd also say that an electric pickup makes even more sense than an electric car. Much more space to put the batteries, with much less concern for the weight (and therefore handling) tradeoffs that electric drivetrains put on passenger cars, fuel economy benefits that would probably be even bigger than in passenger cars, and a huge way to take advantage of the massive torque that electric motors have.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

Again...not durable?? Extreme loads?

Not sure if it matters, but are they pure electric? Or is it a hybrid?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

The drive systems are electric. The electricity is generated by ICEs.

 

[Slash]

One of the biggest things for me at least is not being able to hear or feel the engine...simply because there isn't an engine. It just kills it for me.

 

[Antonisbob]

One of the biggest things for me at least is not being able to hear or feel the engine...simply because there isn't an engine. It just kills it for me.

This.

As of right now they're not practical, a system like the ones Incorporated in mine trucks may work, 4 electric motors for each wheel and a Diesel engine as a generator for electricity?

 

[R5]

As a guy who loves his EV, I can say this. BAE systems (the military group) are working with Drayson racing on "Structural batteries" which is basically CFRP acting as batteries. This will reduce weight as it can be used to be part of the chassis AND power the motor (the Drayson uses this technology in the rear wing) meaning its lighter and therefore more efficient. It's not 100% ready but hopefully it will be soon, it will be extremely beneficial.

 

[Slash]

This.

As of right now they're not practical, a system like the ones Incorporated in mine trucks may work, 4 electric motors for each wheel and a Diesel engine as a generator for electricity?

Just makes me wonder how they distribute the power between each wheel evenly.

 

[Joel]

Electric motors make a lot of sense in a pickup. The biggest benefit of electric motors is hilarious amounts of torque, exactly what is needed for a pickup. I don't think they're ready to be used all day on a job site yet, but for the average truck driver who uses his truck for daily driving and once a month tows a boat or takes stuff to the dump, they'd be fine.

The big 3's marketing agencies would have you believe most truck drivers are towing huge trailers and hauling tons of stuff all the time, but most people I've seen drive one to work and back and convince themselves they need one for the winter and hockey bags. Of course, there are people who use them for work, but for most people who have them they don't "need" them, just like how most SUV drivers "should" use a minivan strictly on practicality.

Issue is one of acceptance I think, passenger cars became appliances a while ago and an EV commuter makes sense. Trucks are still about a big throaty V8 and the image that puts off, which could delay the process. Still though, I think electic pickups would be very attractive for governments, I would imagine that once there's a decent EV truck that the Ontario government or NYC's municipal government will be all over it, regardless of what it costs.

 

[homeforsummer]

Just makes me wonder how they distribute the power between each wheel evenly.

They don't distribute it evenly, as such. It's known as torque vectoring - sending power to each wheel exactly as it's needed. So if a wheel slips (not likely on that mine truck, but more likely on a car) you reduce that wheels's torque and send more to the other motors. Or if you're cornering and the wheels are all rotating at slightly different speeds due to taking slightly different lines, then the electric motors handle it. Or if you want to corner quicker (again, not a mine truck issue but certainly a car issue) you can vary power to the wheels as you see fit.

As for how they do it, it's all just electronics. Works little differently than the systems which currently control traction control systems, or ABS, or brakeforce distribution etc. Though with in-wheel motors it's done quicker and more accurately than any internal combustion-powered vehicle could ever do it.