Forum Discussion
fj12ryder wrote:
Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. It's going to be several years before any electric truck will be able to both haul a big load, and get a range of several hundred miles. Most likely will happen, but it's a ways in the future.
Good news for us!
Ford also announced extensive re-charging network.
Am watching development on the first-to-market for electric pick up for a towing truck.
I recall Rivian has already introduced their pick up truck although we are still murky on the details, specs and capabilities.
Tesla "promised" to introduce their truck this quarter, stating capabilities comparable to F150 and targeted range of 300 to 500 miles.
Ford and GM also stated they will soon also have EV pick up. Latest from Ford is that it will carry a generator -- perhaps to continually charge the on-board batteries to extend the range.- Rivian has been posting pictures of its pickup for quite some time with no real world examples.
Tesla "promised" a semi last year at this time. But so far it's vaporware.
Ford and GM are parroting what they think people want to hear. Believe it when you see it. - Don't call Tesla's semi "vaporware". There are 2 prototypes running around the West. I have personally seen them 2X here in the Reno area. There is quite a bit of discussion on using a Tesla semi chassis under a motorhome. With Tesla's experience installing their Superchargers all over the place, I can see the logical next step of building a electric motorhome chassis as a replacement for Diesel pushers and building out a charging network at higher end parks. I'm suspecting there may not be much of a difference in price between those two powertrains give how much a 500HP (or higher) Diesel engine with Allison transmission costs plus you'd ditch the Diesel genny set. We have, on very few occasions, stayed at higher end "RV resorts", usually by necessity of not finding a normal park with vacancies. As our class A Winnebago is still less than 5 years old, while they kind of look down on us, they haven't come up with an exclusion policy that works to keep us out (yet). You take your place surrounded by million dollar MCI's, Prevosts, and the like after being relieved of $100 plus for your spot. I can very easily see places like that being equipped with a power pedestal sufficient that would provide an overnight charge for an extra $100 or so. I suspect you can count the number of people who dry camp with these rigs on one hand so having to be at a charger every night is probably not an issue. Generally, electricity delivers the equivalant range at 1/3 the cost of fossil fuel. Both the fuel cost savings and lower noise level of an electric drive system would no doubt be very attractive to those who think little about dropping 7 figures on a coach. Another plus is not having to pull into a smelly Diesel island at a truck stop to refuel. Being able to take that out of the travel experience would probably sell a lot of coaches on that benefit alone. Reduced maintenance would be another huge plus. Brakes would probably never wear out as 90% of the stopping would be through recharging the battery (with never a worry about "no engine braking" restrictions) and, of course, the costly Diesel oil change would go away. Once Tesla actually gets their semi into production, I suspect an RV chassis will be close behind along with the associated charging network at the "platinum" resorts. Electric motorhomes have the potential to knock Diesel out.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/29449/tesla-semi-prototype-spotted-hauling-75000-pound-load-through-northern-california - Yeah, those two "prototypes" have been out and about for a year or so, but amazingly enough there are no others, even after a year. Maybe they aren't working out quite as well as planned? Perhaps not vaporware, but pretty darned scarce.
And I didn't say it wasn't possible that there will be electric RV's, I said that it's going to be several years before they become really feasible, and affordable. If a relatively small Tesla car costs between $50,000-$100,000, imagine what an RV would cost. fj12ryder wrote:
Yeah, those two "prototypes" have been out and about for a year or so, but amazingly enough there are no others, even after a year. Maybe they aren't working out quite as well as planned? Perhaps not vaporware, but pretty darned scarce.
And I didn't say it wasn't possible that there will be electric RV's, I said that it's going to be several years before they become really feasible, and affordable. If a relatively small Tesla car costs between $50,000-$100,000, imagine what an RV would cost.
Tesla’s start online at just under 40,000 or at a showroom at 35500 for special order. They can get up to north of 125,000 presently for a model x and the new model S Plaid is expected to be closer to 130,000.
I would think you are right though. It’ll be a hefty sticker price. But then again lots of people have that kinda coin. Gas or diesel motorhomes are stinky noisy slow and gutless. And if they are use to driving electric already it would be an easy transition.- I don't pretend to know all the engineering details of electric but I suspect what they are doing is research for the future. Very skeptical about all electric vehicles that will really meet all of our needs and wants in the near future. Electric cars aren't even close in my opinion. A major breakthrough is needed in batteries or even other forms of emission free power sources. Maybe the wealthy can afford a real motor home to travel the country and an electric one to camp locally.
garyemunson wrote:
Don't call Tesla's semi "vaporware".
No one who bet against Elon Musk won yet. And his friend for whom he borrowed $50,000 to meet payroll and wrote it off thinking Elon's idea is a pipe dream (pun intended) got his first vehicle, a roadster, and got his ROI many times over.
That's a good intelligent well thought out analysis that I agree. Though I myself won't be the customer for the big rig even if I can afford it as my favorites are tight public campsites.
It's also quite the Tesla strategy of starting with the high-end and going mass affordable market as they get up to speed on automated manufacturing and economy of scale.- I don't think the long term success of Tesla is a done deal.
Reisender wrote:
https://electrek.co/2019/10/18/winnebago-hungry-electric-rvs/
Ford also has a F-53 all electric chassis, electric autos/trucks/RV's are the future, however battery technology has to catch up before I buy one, I suspect in 10 years half of all new autos/trucks sold will be electric..timmac wrote:
Reisender wrote:
https://electrek.co/2019/10/18/winnebago-hungry-electric-rvs/
Ford also has a F-53 all electric chassis, electric autos/trucks/RV's are the future, however battery technology has to catch up before I buy one, I suspect in 10 years half of all new autos/trucks sold will be electric..
Not difficult to imagine with every automaker and his brothers in Europe and Asia going into EV.
