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
Mentioned in a couple of threads I guess, including this one: If Tesla Motors created a sub-brand, what would it be named?
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...
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
Also, those that operate fleets of pickups are much more likely to look at the total cost of ownership and not have the "sticker shock" problem that your average consumer has with EVs.
Bob Lutz and his Volt-like truck visit Jay Lenos Garage I was thinking from a UK perspective - the link above would be a similar idea and direct competitor in the US to a Tesla pickup. UK (and German) farmers also have great solar subsidies which help!
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.
I agree. would a electric pickup short out if you forded a river? You would have to engineer in watertightness