Trade in Tacoma for an EV Truck?

I’m kind of tempted to do so. I commute about 70 miles (when I’m working). It would make sense to go electric for me. I don’t tow ever and it’s usually just me and my camera gear in the bed. How many of you would consider selling or trading in your taco for maybe the Nikola Badger or Rivian? Cybertruck just seems ridiculous, but we’ll see I guess.

 

EV swap your tacoma

 

Those are all pretty expensive compared to a Tacoma. The Rivian starts at about $70k and the Badger was supposed to be $60k+, if memory serves. The Cybertruck was supposed to start at like $40k, but that seems unlikely.

For me, it would take a long time to eat the cost difference. mileage would be way better, but you would have to keep this thing a long time to hit the break-even point. I mean, you could buy two Tacomas for the price of some of these. Also, charging infrastructure is underdeveloped in America. I hope that it will get better as time goes on, but for now ICE vehicles are simply easier and more convenient in the US.

 

Why do some these companies insist on making EV trucks so damn weird looking? Just make it look like a truck

 

The Nikola looks the best. Charging infrastructure isn’t something I’m too worried about as it will be charged 99% of the time at home and there are also charging stations at work and all over LA. Price wise sure, they’re more expensive as expected. The idea of not stopping for gas is nice as well as the instant torque of an electric motor. Swapping out the taco engine for an electric motor doesn’t seem feasible cost wise. It’s just not that simple. The weight would have to be the same to make it all work and where would all the batteries go? By the time you’re done it would probably cost as much as buying an EV truck. Anyways, just throwing it out there. Happy Friday.

 

I just threw up in my mouth looking at those Thanks

 

That first truck looks the best.

My brother in law is an electrical engineer and huge car guy/pretty rich and said he looked into tesla but would never own one due to the poor overall quality. Tesla has been around for years now...rivian and the other companies have yet to make a single vehicle they can actually sell.

I think it will be at least 10 years before they become a reliable and viable option for me and I'm sure by then the taco will be an ev

 

Why not just get a small EV car for your long commute?

 

I had leased a Chevy Spark EV for commuting a few years back. Wish I still had it. It was fun to drive and I was able to drive in the Carpool Lane....and my Tacoma was always waiting for me at home. With that Tacoma paid off...I was saving more in gas than i was paying in lease payment. i actually made money doing this (well actually probably broke even if I add in elec bill and insurance)

 

I need a baby step, toss the Toyota Hybrid system in a Taco to give me awesome low-end torque with this current V6 revver and I'm gonna save for a purchase.

 

^^THIS^^ My buddy has a Tesla and what he is saving on gas he is paying on electric bills... not sure if trading the Tacoma would be a smart move.

 

You can negate this by running an extension cord to your neighbors!


All the ev owners I know complain about their electric bill now! Lol

 

What does you brother in law recommends for electric vehicles?

 

EV trucks cost more than I want to spend on a pick up. If EVs could be exempt from having to adhere to the posted speed limit, I might consider one.

 

The key is when you work out a TCO and carbon offset.

Fuel is still used for electric production, and you pay for your electric.

In the grand scheme of things, a Civic or Fit are very viable choices, both for owner TCO and carbon footprint.

 

I would, but I'm going to wait 15-20 years for the technology to become more reliable and, of course, cheaper.

There also has to be a better way to charge EVs. Like solar panal roofs or something.

 

If he's a hands on car guy, does other DIY types of things, etc. I'd likely value his opinion. For the EE's/ME's I worked with, managed, or was managed by over the years, they were the most practical with solutions to problems and creativity for our work.

What I called 'textbook engineers' sometimes did well with research or even customer interaction, but as far as effective solutions to problems, not so hot.

Just my experience. 30 years worth.

 

The Badger looks the best to me.
The Rivian does this (supposedly)https://youtu.be/yzwM8KE2L3I
As for the Cybertruck, it looks like the foam packing from the crates that the other
two came in. Or maybe the crates themselves.

 

Well that's a stupid idea.

There isn't really anything to service. No air filters, oil changes, spark plugs, wires, o2 sensors... bets of all, nobody is going to crawl underneath your EV to saw off your cats and cost you $4k.