Tesla CEO Elon Musk held quite the shebang yesterday evening. Not only did the electric-car maker reveal a 500-mile electric semi truck, but it also rolled out a brand new Tesla Roadster. But, wait, that’s not all. The company also teased a pickup truck of sorts, Motor1 reported on Friday.
We doubt it’s production-bound, but Tesla did show a slide depicting a miniature Tesla semi carrying a traditional pickup truck. Previously, Musk alluded to the thought of a miniature version of its semi truck in a tweet. Following the semi truck’s announcement, Musk said a pickup truck is slated for the next 18-24 months. Such a product could really disrupt the market, especially if Tesla’s battery technology pans out as imagined.
Chevrolet, Ford and Ram haven’t shown plans or even signs that an all-electric pickup is in the works. Ford will introduce an F-150 Hybrid in the coming years and GM sells the Silverado and Sierra e-assist, but a fully-electric pickup? Not yet.
Tesla ambitious plans still ride on moving the Model 3 out of “production hell.” Musk previously targeted 5,000 Model 3 produced per week next month, but only a couple hundred have been built, likely by hand since production woes keep the car out of mass production.
Should GM step up and build a battery-electric pickup? Talk to us below.
Comments
Perhaps he can use deposit money from this to make the model 3 happen, efficiently. Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul much?
As mileage range grows perhaps it is time to consider an electric pick up. Also an all electric van would be ideal for the trades (ie: plumber, electrician).
If GM hasn’t looked at it I’d be surprised.
Even a low mileage van would be great for the trades. My company (electrical contractor) on average drive less than 50 miles per day, it would be great if they could just come back to the shop, plug the truck in, and go home.
I find it really funny though, that Tesla cannot even fulfill the Model 3 pre orders yet they put so much time and money into engineering, designing and showcasing these new, “futuristic” vehicles. Honestly, how much do you think that shindig cost?
Your “a low mileage van” is already in production by the Deutsche Post (German post company) which chose to found the “Streetscooter” company for their daily parcel delivery cars.
Parcel delivery is marked by lots of stops but low mileage per day.
Traditional delivery trucks have an electrical starter engine to start the really driving internal combustion engine (ICE), with either heavy use of the starter engine, or the ICE running while the car is stopped for a delivery.
At “streetscooter” they dropped the ICE and make the electrical starter engine strong enough to move the car, coupled with a stronger battery.
I understand from another article that GM is planning for a similar vehicle.
ISnt that a F150 on the truck bed lol?
These Gen 2 electric chassis will have a LCV. What do you want your truck to do? Hauling, towing, go off road yes. All this truck is doing is acceleration. Gm already has shown a truck chassis, off road with fuel cells on these, with great range.
This I believe is just a deflection of the current troubles they are facing.
This truck is a ways off yet. Also the roadster is not close to production.
The real issue remains that they are burning through a billion dollars a quarter. Last quarter this quarter and very possible next quarter.
People ordering a 3 series today will not see it for a year with so little production and so many pre orders.
Tesla has transitioned from a tech company to MFG and it has not gone well as they need volume to make any return on the 3 as it is not like the S with a large profit margins.
The next 12 months will be telling.
If it was Ford or another established car maker then GM should be worried. However being that this is just a tease from a company that is having trouble manufacturing a simple compact car… it will be a while.
It is untried technology in the space right right now, but I believe the future of long-haul trucking is the hydrogen fuel cell, not electric.
…specifically i meant the batteries – although obviously there will be a smaller ‘energy storage’ battery.
I should have been more explicit for the ‘propellerheads’; i meant long-haul trucks won’t need massive battery storage arrays to complete (say) a 600mi journey fully loaded without a stop to recharge – as I know the HFC technology provides electric power to an intermediate storage system (ie. small battery array) or directly to electric motors, but not motive power like an ICE drives the wheels.
The hydrogen fuel cell is the generator for the electric, so it’s basically the same as an electric vehicle. A hydrogen fuel cell does not power an ICE. It powers electric motors.
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work
I think a good idea is to have the electric motors being driven from a rechargeable battery, possibly Lithium-Ion, so that kinetic energy recovered (from brakeing e.g.) can be stored as electric energy in the battery, and use fuel cell as the back up and range extender.
somebody explained in the SURUS thread that this SURUS electrical commercial vehicle platform concept does work that way.
BTW, a competely different vehicle is working this way: the latest German submarine, although I don’t know how they could recover braking energy … The screw is driven from a LiIon battery, which is backed up while under water by fuel cells, and on the surface by a diesel engine. (I recently saw a TV feature on the first outing of such a submarine, where the principle was explained. Interesting) The diesel engine needs air for buring the diesel fuel, while the fuel cell releases oxygen to breathe…
Cant remember who said it but it was exactly how I have felt about this Musk character.
He keeps burning thru cash, putting out all these promises, raising funds, putting out promises…. at the end of day, failing to deliver on all of them. I don’t trust him frankly, and sometimes it feels like hes scamming investors with how hes running it.
But hey, he makes hella nice cars.