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Tesla Pickup Truck

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AnOutsider

S532 # XS27
Moderator
Apr 3, 2009
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I could have sworn we had a topic on this, but I can't seem to find it (will try a Google search of the site later, might be buried in another discussion). Anywho, in the following article, Franz all but confirms there will be a Tesla Pickup:

Tesla’s electric 3-series rival ‘on sale in 2015’ | Autocar

“There are lots of ways in which we can exploit the platform,” said Von Holzhausen. “There will be a time and place for us to develop something around a pick-up. That’s a market for which the torque of an electric motor would be ideally suited.”
 
A pickup truck would have huge potential. Fleets spend a fortune on gasoline and maintenance, and most competent operators understand the concept of "total cost of ownership". I'm sure Tesla sees that as a big opportunity, but they've got a lot on their plate...
 
Fleets...
I ran across this earlier today. Forgot how I got there...
Fleet Services | Tesla Motors
FLEET SERVICES
BUILD A FLEET FOR THE 21[SUP]ST[/SUP] CENTURY
Your drivers want exhilarating, stylish, practical vehicles. You’re looking for innovative ways to reduce costs and the environmental impact of the fleet you manage. Model S is the fleet vehicle you’ve been searching for.
 
I hope they wait with making a pickup until after they've made a smaller sedan, the crossover, the next roadster and a van.

Pickups do not sell over here. The segment is probably less than 1% of the total market. If they do decide to make one in the near future, I hope the market for pickups is significantly better in the US.
 
pick up truck

When I think of pickups, I think of farm vehicles such as Land Rovers. They need good torque but relatively low highway speed and acceleration and all wheel drive - and two electric motors would be a simpler system than current transmissions

However they are a winner mostly because they are short range - used to nip across fields and perhaps to the local town and would require smaller battery packs and therefore would be economic to produce- and most farms have 3 phase charging points. Mind you I think I would prefer a diesel vehicle if I was in the outback or the serengheti!

I could see Tesla licencing packs to a third party or having a sub brand - although Honda has a strong rep in most markets with a single brand
 
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This electric truck would have to be one of those SUT's and not a real bashing in the boonies, hauling/towing truck. I cannot imagine an electric truck going some of the place I have went with my Cummins Ram (through rivers, muddy swamps etc). There are some great applications for EV powertrains a real truck is not one of them.
 
This electric truck would have to be one of those SUT's and not a real bashing in the boonies, hauling/towing truck. I cannot imagine an electric truck going some of the place I have went with my Cummins Ram (through rivers, muddy swamps etc). There are some great applications for EV powertrains a real truck is not one of them.
If they can protect an ICE from water intrusion, hitting rocks, etc, there is no reason you can't protect an electric motor. I just saw a Toyota Celica that had been modified so that the air scoop was towards the bottom of the engine (dumb idea). It went into a puddle, the motor sucked up some water and they had to replace a piston, crank, rods, etc.