Today Elon Tweeted (Elon Tweets a Lot ) that Tesla would have a Full-sized Pickup Truck by late 2019 or early 2020. Elon also Tweeted that the Tesla would be slightly larger than an F-150 pickup .
Soon, you could be tooling around in your Tesla Pickup, passing Gas Stations Left and Right (literally) and taking advantage of Tesla's Super Charging network, or simply charging up overnight from your campsite.
The Future is Near...
I hope you are not too serious about the future - the longer I hang around, the more distant the "future" seems to get. Some of the "futures" from 50 years ago never materialized.
Of course there is a (small) niche for something like a battery powered truck, but the energy content of a pound of carbon or any other fossil fuel combined with atmospheric oxygen is huge compared with even the most modern batteries. And the electricity has to come from somewhere...just a thought.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
I agree with you Paul it is a small niche market. Edmunds ran a long term test with a tesla Model X towing a tear drop trailer Charging times approaching 2 hours. Actual range while towing was about half what is stated at recharge. I would encourage anyone considering buying one of these to look at the test and decide if they can live with the limitations. Also study the map of charging stations concentrated along the interstates and urban areas. If you like driving off the slab or in the boonies it's probably not a wise choice. An additional consideration is EV's pay no road tax. Essentially freeloading off the rest of us that do when we buy fuel.
https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-x/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-tesl...
You will notice the stated range after recharge and the actual distance between charges is less han half of the computers estimate
Charge #2 Indio, California
Miles since last charge: 138 miles
Average energy: 488 Wh/mile
Arrival range: 35 miles
Charge time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
Departure range: 254 miles
Charge 3 Quartzsite, Arizona
Miles since last charge: 118 miles
Average energy: 636 Wh/mile
Arrival range: 13 miles
Charge time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
Departure range: 254 miles
The line that made me think this is not the type of vehicle for me
" It took 1 hour, 51 minutes to bring the battery from 13 to 254 miles. I finally unplugged and headed out at 9:40 pm, some 8 hours and 45 minutes after picking up the trailer just 241 miles ago. That's a blinding average speed of 27.5 mph, folks."
While I do have to stop to pee more often than I used to, it isn't every 120 miles and it doesn't take me 2 hours to accomplish the task.
Couple of points to note to be fair:
I do agree with you, that at the moment it isn’t ready. Do I want one, not yet. As in all new products and technologies I’m not usually an early adopter, and this will be very pricey. It is coming and will be a viable option to gas and diesel tow vehicles. Once it is mainstream and mass produced I’d certainly consider it, but I may be done towing before that era dawns.
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Granted they are not the same vehicle and that criticism would be valid if the truck was available for a similar test but it's not and neither is the Semi. I just wanted to point out basing purchasing decisions on claims for as yet unbuilt vehicle, from a company known to stretch the truth (as most do) is a bit naive. I may be a cynic, and I can live with that.
Actually I have read the towing capacity for the Semi is reduced from diesel because of the 5 tons of batteries. Until it is in production/operation and the claims of Tesla are born out I am skeptical. I think EVs are a great idea in an urban area. Maybe someday a replacement for IC engines for all uses, but I won't live to see it Greg.