Dodge kills full size EV pickup truck development

[alarmguy]

Just announced - Tesla is stopping protection of the rear wheel drive cyber truck.

I would have to agree with the article that most likely because of slow sales.

You can’t argue with the article that Tesla originally thought they would have production of 250,000 to half half million units per year of all versions and so far came up with 24,000 units in a year or slightly more.That puts them behind 225,000 to 475,000 per year, then originally stated.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a66102567/tesla-cybertruck-rear-wheel-drive-canceled/

 

[jghall00]

I can only assume it would be parallel. But I know nothing.

It's a series hybrid with the Pentastar 3.6 driving a generator. Basically an electric truck with an ICE engine as one of two power sources, the other being plug-in power.

I can't say I really blame them for the switch. Ram doesn't have the scale to drive down the costs of electrification. GM basically owns the EV truck market. When you incluse the costs of fuel and maintenance, an $80,000 Silverado EV is actually competitive with ICE versions. Depreciation may swing that back a bit, but GM is very close to achieving price parity between EV and ICE.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

electric drive for a truck makes sense, with basically all torque available from 1 rpm. But carrying a big heavy battery around makes a lot less sense. Hybrid could be the answer, especially for those that can't charge at home.

Especially for city duty. Seems like it would be ideal.

However, they'll probably only ever be available for cowboy cadillac models. The Lightning is only available in a high trim model and not a legit work truck.

 

[JHZR2]

electric drive for a truck makes sense, with basically all torque available from 1 rpm. But carrying a big heavy battery around makes a lot less sense. Hybrid could be the answer, especially for those that can't charge at home.

Agree. Would need to be PHEV scale, not because you necessarily want to be able to drive some distance on electric, but that you need the electronic boost at full rated load and some grade for a good distance.

 

[johnmyster]

Limited payload capacity aside, the powerboost Fords are appealing for RV users that want to dry camp/glamp in places that electricity is not available. It keeps you from adding solar/inverter/battery/charging systems to the camper. Instead, the camper just plugs into the truck. Add a starlink dish and head to the national park/forest campgrounds and it's like you never left home.

It would be neat to see similar options from another manufacturer, especially if it payload capacity isn't crippled. Ram is marketing enough payload and towing to be interesting.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Just announced - Tesla is stopping protection of the rear wheel drive cyber truck.

I would have to agree with the article that most likely because of slow sales.

You can’t argue with the article that Tesla originally thought they would have production of 250,000 to half half million units per year of all versions and so far came up with 24,000 units in a year or slightly more.That puts them behind 225,000 to 475,000 per year, then originally stated.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a66102567/tesla-cybertruck-rear-wheel-drive-canceled/

Definitely has not been the stampede that some envisioned (banked on).......................

 

[jghall00]

Definitely has not been the stampede that some envisioned (banked on).......................

Not because of the tech. It's just risibly *****. Even if it looked like the A-Bat concept, it would have sold better.

 

[alarmguy]

Not because of the tech. It's just risibly *****. Even if it looked like the A-Bat concept, it would have sold better.

View attachment 300717

^^ What is this?

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

With modern EVs charging how quickly they do and charging infrastructure being plenty good (especially if your vehicle is compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network either natively or via an adapter) a full EV household is totally doable. Even for road trips.

Very location dependant still

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

They can be situation dependent as well......
We can often forget that mileage limits are not the only , or even the main reasons for slower than anticipated sales from the start. Why have the masses not been zooming and flying out the dealership lots driving their brand new EVs or the likes to this day? Lots of reasons.
Just like everything else these days , (even though we and the media do it all the time) it is not in a box , just simple as black and white.

 

[alarmguy]

They can be situation dependent as well......
We can often forget that mileage limits are not the only , or even the main reasons for slower than anticipated sales from the start. Why have the masses not been zooming and flying out the dealership lots driving their brand new EVs or the likes to this day? Lots of reasons.
Just like everything else these days , (even though we and the media do it all the time) it is not in a box , just simple as black and white.

Other than the fun of something new. Im not sure why an EV. TO me it's just another vehicle and a gas SUV is far more preferable of rmy use. I do get it for those that are looking for acceleration and/or small car handling. I would think, also in our household as a second car it might be preferable since I never have to change oil or air filters. But then have the expense of higher insurance, tires and significant vehicle cost.
Agree, not simple black and white. Im not sure why it has to be either. They are both just vehicles. Choose the "engine" that works for you. For some reason, people fight over what other people buy and some take it very personal trying to justify their reason.

 

[RBT]

I don’t mind EVs but I think the disappearance of the federal tax credit will winnow the market significantly.

 

[jghall00]

^^ What is this?

Toyota A-Bat pickup concept.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Other than the fun of something new. Im not sure why an EV. TO me it's just another vehicle and a gas SUV is far more preferable of rmy use. I do get it for those that are looking for acceleration and/or small car handling. I would think, also in our household as a second car it might be preferable since I never have to change oil or air filters. But then have the expense of higher insurance, tires and significant vehicle cost.
Agree, not simple black and white. Im not sure why it has to be either. They are both just vehicles. Choose the "engine" that works for you. For some reason, people fight over what other people buy and some take it very personal trying to justify their reason.

Exactly.

 

[Jetronic]

Agree. Would need to be PHEV scale, not because you necessarily want to be able to drive some distance on electric, but that you need the electronic boost at full rated load and some grade for a good distance.

Or a small battery with a BIG generator on a BIG engine. Theoretically you'd have full power available at any speed. But bigger battery means you could regen brake more.

 

[Jetronic]

Especially for city duty. Seems like it would be ideal.

However, they'll probably only ever be available for cowboy cadillac models. The Lightning is only available in a high trim model and not a legit work truck.

Yes, city duty or actually working, not for driving the speed limit on the freeway.

 

[JHZR2]

Or a small battery with a BIG generator on a BIG engine. Theoretically you'd have full power available at any speed. But bigger battery means you could regen brake more.

A PHEV does have a relatively small battery, just bigger than the hybrid battery on most pure hybrid cars.

Point is that the truck hybrid battery needs to have a bit more staying power for sustained pulls.

 

[earlyre]

If you read the article, it was a true electric vehicle that also had a generator, but no way was hooked into the driveline. They canceled the plans.
It did have a V6 engine strictly operated as a generator to eliminate range anxiety.
No, it is not going to be sold under some other name. Development has been canceled.

They are coming to market with a hybrid pick up that will be sold under a different name than RAM

no...
the cancelled one was a Full electric, like the Cybertruck, Rivian, F150 Lightning, etc... no gas engine.
The Ramcharger REV is a fully electric drive train, Electric axles, big Battery pack, and a gas engine that ONLY drives a generator to charge the batteries ( you can still plug it in of course ). Similar to what Edison Motors is doing...

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

no...
the cancelled one was a Full electric, like the Cybertruck, Rivian, F150 Lightning, etc... no gas engine.
The Ramcharger REV is a fully electric drive train, Electric axles, big Battery pack, and a gas engine that ONLY drives a generator to charge the batteries ( you can still plug it in of course ). Similar to what Edison Motors is doing...

It sounds very interesting and promising going forward. The EV world is likely in for many (hope not too long) years of growing pains. The industry has and keeps showing it can and will continue to work around any hurdles that pop up in its way to future planned growth.

 

[UncleDave]

Based on what we learned about the EV charger Dodge prob shouldn't bother.

I don't know anyone who actually cares what anyone else might choose.

What often will elicit a lively discussion is an incomplete or inaccurate comparison of the two constructed in such a way as to favor a specific outcome, or when preferences or individual circumstances get stated as universal truths.