The Future of Pickup Trucks?

[Winston]

 

[dinoburb]

Great idea; however, recharging takes too long and where will you find a station when you are very low on battery? Hydrogen autos seem like a much better alternative.

 

[BDB]

I'm a current driver of a plug-in hybrid (Honda Clarity), and I absolutely love driving on electricity. In fact, I find that I'm frustrated whenever I have to burn gas. Compared to the electric motor, running the internal combustion engine just seems noisy, smelly, and antiquated. Plus the instant-on torque from the electric motor is fantastic. I'm also a cheapskate, so I appreciate the fact that electrons are cheaper than molecules.

I have previously seen info on both the Rivian pickup and the SUV. They are my dream cars.

 

[Raindog]

The guy in this video reminded me strongly of Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now. Kind of a manic rambling. Or maybe an aged version of Cliff Stoll.

 

[kuririn]

Hmmm. let's see.....
The 180 KW option is anticipated to have a 400+ mile operating range? So that would mean several days between recharges.
No gas, no oil changes, = reduced maintenance and fuel bills.
And while electricity is not free, it is still a lot less per driven mile than gas.
Many municipalities have legislated "perks" for EV owners. For example in my area they get free on street metered parking, free airport parking, access to the HOV lanes during rush hour without the minimum passenger requirement. There was a law requiring new developments to have x number of charging stations per y number of new parking stalls. So your wife could recharge the second car while she gets a spa treatment or you could do it while getting a few drinks at the local establishment. I can see a future where EV owners will be fighting over charging station spots like car owners now fight over parking spots. This all on top of the tax incentives.
But, most EV owners, I think, are recharging overnight at their home stations while they sleep. Some EVs have a fast charge option.
AND 0-60 in 3.something seconds.
Downside, my neighbor had a Prius. The battery pack was supposed to last several years (like 8 or something). It started to fail after 3 or 4 years. Covered under warranty, so no out of pocket cost to him. Otherwise you are looking at several thousands of dollars.
Wondering what the price point will be. And if all the promises can be kept. Look at Tesla. Laters.

 

[Charles_McG]

Great idea; however, recharging takes too long and where will you find a station when you are very low on battery? Hydrogen autos seem like a much better alternative.

Hydrogen storage tech isn’t up to the task yet. I worked on a DOE H2 project that didn’t meet the metrics.

 

[kuririn]

Plus where are you going to find a hydrogen filling station?
The original Honda Clarity was not a hybrid, but a hydrogen fuel celled vehicle. They ran a pilot test program in the SoCal area, I believe. Scarcity of fueling stations was an issue.

 

[lakeroadster]

Man.. could that truck be any uglier?

 

[MClark]

I'm in the middle of a trip in my pickup from Phoenix to Regina and return.
Can I do that with this truck?
I'm sure there is lots of hydrogen station in western North Dakota

 

[Nathan]

He says that the most powerful version makes 180 kilowatts then goes on to claim that it generates 750 hp. Not sure how that is possible since 180 kilowatts = 241 hp.

 

[dhbarr]

A diesel hybrid has always made a lot of sense to me, but all-battery for a mass hauler less so.

 

[Brian H.]

I am one that is all for alternatives to petroleum products, however, most of the "alternatives" still rely on petroleum as the ultimate source of energy. Most of our electricity and hydrogen is still being produced from petroleum. This defeats the purpose. Now the energy is being converted to different forms multiple times, i.e coal(or natural gas) to steam to electricity to motive force. Each conversion is at most 85% efficient. This equates to the alternative fueled vehicle being no more efficient(environmentally friendly) than direct fuel to motive force.

 

[cherokeej]

SCVTA had a small experimental fleet (3) of hydrogen fuel cell coaches they ran for a few years in the early 2K's. While the coach itself put only H2O out its tailpipe, it turns out that at the time, hydrogen production was so filthy, that passenger mile per passenger mile, the environment was better off running diesel. It was extremely expensive, too. Special shop, special training, special tools, special fueling station... Everything about those coaches was expensive. They finally dropped 'em, and returned the power plants to the Canadian company that owned them.
Perhaps production methods have improved?

 

[Winston]

Great idea; however, recharging takes too long and where will you find a station when you are very low on battery? Hydrogen autos seem like a much better alternative.

Note the 400 mile range and 15 minute, 80% charge (unsubstantiated) claim in the video, the incredible torque and 0-60 mph time. H2 delivery, storage, and safety has all kinds of issues.

An idea I read about a year or two ago that was being worked on was a vehicle battery pack which used a non-hazmat liquid electrolyte. To recharge, you'd simply swap out the electrolyte at a refilling station. All of the gasoline delivery infrastructure already present could be used with the addition of a spent electrolyte recovery tank. The spent electrolyte would then be reactivated via an inexpensive process.

 

[DEmery]

Main downsides to electric

Charge time
They lose a lot of range in the cold
Toxic materials in batteries
Need to figure out how to get electric vehicles to pay for road maintenance

If you are an urban commuter in LA, they are great. Less so in Montana (but a Tesla on the Beartooth Highway is awesome).

 

[les]

Main downsides to electric

Charge time
They lose a lot of range in the cold
Toxic materials in batteries
Need to figure out how to get electric vehicles to pay for road maintenance.

Plus if there is a vehicular accident, there can either be leakage of the toxic materials or there is high voltage and stored energy that can be hazardous to rescuers. You can turn off a petroleum powered motors - you can't tu

 

[dhbarr]

How does one turn off a pool of gasoline?

 

[lakeroadster]

How does one turn off a pool of gasoline?

Pick your nose in front of it?