Electric Tacoma coming

Here is the truck everyone has been waiting for:
https://jalopnik.com/the-2021-pickman-ev-trucks-show-tiny-can-be-tough-1846958657

I’m sure these guys would be happy to take your money: https://lightyear.one/

I meant that literally too, I wouldn’t expect anything back once it is taken.

 

✈️

 

I wonder wait that range would be towing. If towing knocks your range down 50%, that might be my next truck. Gawd I hate that Ford has done this (Allegedly).

Honestly, I really like the idea of a frunk on the truck. As a guy who spent over 3K on a cap, it would be nice to skip that and lord knows 3K doesn't buy you what it used to.

 

I plan on handing my 2019 off to my daughter who's going to be born in 2 months, so Toyota has 16 years to figure it out!

 

Looking at their website it looks like to invest you need to throw in at minimum 100k Euros // $120k in USD, or you can buy one for $180k, I think I'll hold off on that one!

 

Pickman. Coming soon to a driving range near you.

 

If you like the look of your Tacoma and all the accessors you currently have on it, maybe paying ~20k or so isn't that bad to have a full EV truck conversion.

If I had to do this now, I would probably do a Tesla motor/inverter/controller (IDK which batteries). I would also get a manual shift AWD T-case out of a GX or so, which the e-motor can bolt up to and not have to worry about a transmission (I don't think I need a reverse gear? AC induction motor ). The T case is sweet because it will have two speeds (high / low and a neutral , plus be stronger than a manual trans + T-case combo).

Maybe pack enough batteries under the cab and under the bed to get 120 miles range?

I think a shop like EV West (https://evwest.com/catalog/ ) has the experience and know how to do this. I assume it will be 20k+.

I think this idea is just dumb enough to work.

 

Lordstown motors has admitted their orders aren't firm, the CEO and CFO have bailed out with their golden parachutes and yet people sill believe the hype they're selling.

The stock should be at zero after the last two weeks.

Not investment advice, I hold no positions

 

I’d want to see actual range numbers rather than estimated ones to confirm this. Also, given how petrified some people are about going below 1/4 tank(7gallons left) on our tacos even though the light comes on with more than 3 gallons left it’s doubtful more than 3/4 of whatever range it does have will ever be used so hats off to Ford for supplying a usable range number. States with higher speed limits can expect worse results.

 

I definitely want to see them too. At the original 300 range before towing it is an easy vehicle for me to ignore. IF, IF the range exceeds 300 by enough I would seriously consider it.

I myself need about 250 miles of range towing to suit my needs. It sounds like it's gonna be close if those numbers I quoted are true.

 

Ughhhh. What a tower of crap. And here I was holding out for some of those sweet 'wrapped magnet wire' wheels.

 

@Sand Dog not sure about a fully electric truck just yet. Looks great though.

 

@Malvolio no words - I stand corrected 'yikes'. Reminds me of something kids used to say, "that's Fugly" !!!

 

If not now I expect they soon will be. Cell capacity has been increasing steadily and that’s without any major breakthroughs being implemented. Add in some steady gains in ev tech(both motors and management) and it won’t be long.

 

Lordstown looked like a scam from the start. Their big reveal was a shit show and their hub motor technology made literally no sense.

Glad to see Ford taking design much more seriously

 

That would be a shame. I’d like to see how well or poorly the hub motors perform. Now is the best opportunity for innovative with so many startups willing to push new ideas. Once the smoke clears most will be eliminated and those that remain will have little incentive to use somebody else’s tech.

 

I'm all for new tech, just not all ideas are good. Hub motors add a lot of unsprung weight, subject the motors to higher service stresses, increase the polar moment of inertia of the vehicle (making for less responsive handling), and necessarily place the motors closer to the ground where they can be exposed to more moisture and dust. The power cables that run to each motor have to travel along suspension components. And finally, the motors are exposed to more heat from being adjacent to the brakes.

 

Each of those has major offsetting advantages so I’d still like to see them used to get real life data. Maybe not good enough handling for a sports car but I don’t want one and it’s not like people don’t commonly put much more massive tires on trucks. What I saw of their testing videos is thorough enough to want to see more. I think it’s a bit early to poo poo the idea given how many heavy parts that constantly wear out just got eliminated. Give the wheel a chance.

 

Oh boy . Not looking too good for EV trucks when it comes to the real fun type of off-roading (god damn it):



https://www.thedrive.com/news/40237...-quits-after-40-miles-of-bajas-san-felipe-250

Some what expected. Heavy EVs = floppy weight which is hard to control through woops. Also high speed off-roading (and autobahn type shit) is they kryptonite of EV's.

I mean for your losers that are more into turtle 4x4 crawling lameness , might still be ok?

 

That hub motor idea would be great for independent rear suspension (and even IFS if you need 4x4). There are no CVs to worry about binding up with 24" + wheel travel. Also your up travel isn't limited by a rear diff mounted in the center of the chassis (like most Baja bugs/ or class1 race cars) . If you don't mind the absolute shit range, a rear hub EV swing arm Baja bug would be amazing for no CV maintenance/repair and having a lot more up travel so you don't have to worry about bottoming out the rear and flipping end over end.