Electrifying Pick-Up Trucks

Here’s an excerpt from an article in AutoNews on Nissan’s move to sell electric pick-up trucks here in the U.S., along with a few comments.

“Engineers at Nissan are working to electrify the company’s pickups, joining a growing field of competitors now interested in the segment. ‘Electrification will be key to trucks,’ Francois Bailly, global head of Nissan’s Light Commercial Vehicles business, said at a press event here last week. “Electric is fun to drive — it’s fantastic torque, acceleration, quietness, all that are great.” But when and how it happens remains to be seen. Whether Nissan pickups receive hybrid powertrains or full battery-electric powertrains will hinge on the results of technology now in development, and also on affordability.”

Uncertainty due to “technology now in development?” I doubt this. I was in the room at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show when Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced his plans to run hard and fast with EVs, and the LEAF has been on the road since 2011. It’s hard to imagine that there are major developments the outcome of which aren’t 100% certain.

“Electrification is sweeping across the sedan and crossover segments, but automakers have been hesitant to attempt it on their workaday pickup products, where no-nonsense power and driving range are priorities. But that is changing.”

It may be changing, but this will take plenty of time. You don’t have to be an automotive marketing genius to understand that demo- and psychographics are of paramount importance here. What’s the overlap of pick-up truck drivers and environmentalists? Hint: Think of Eskimo basketball players and Quaker Navy Seals. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but the point’s clear.

marcopolo says:

November 19, 2019 at 1:58 am

Craig,

Nissan have small pick up trucks not often seen in the USA. These small pick-up rarely exceed 500kg pay loads and so are not much heavier than a car laden with 5 adult passengers.

These light vehicles occupythe same niche market as delivery vans so electrification isn’t very difficult. (I’ve built several).

For commercial or rural purposes, these small vehicles can prove functional, but not economic to purchase where gasoline/distillate is cheap and plentiful.

Over the years a wide range of similar EV specialist vehicles have been produced, mostly in Asia and Europe, some successful, some less so.

For large pick-ups trucks with pay loads exceeding 1 ton, hybrid technology is far more functional and the best of both worlds, especially when travelling unloaded.

The problem for all EV’s is increasing the ESD capacity to cope with irregular loads, gradients, irregular terrain, weight, speed and range.

These problems can be overcome with current technology, but only at a price that makes EV technology impractical and noncompetitive.

” demo- and psychographics” !?!

Sometimes I despair! Why do you go out of your way to sneer and deride different groups in society? Do you imagine that only effete latte-sipping, chardonnay quaffing, aging hippies in Santa Barbara care about EV technology?

Lot’s of pick-up owners are sincere,active environmentalists.

Hey, but then again, since you don’t even own an EV, preferring instead to fill your car with gasoline, maybe you wouldn’t notice!

The reason large EV’s are not a mainstream product is a lack of ESD capacity and immature technology, not resistance from those “deplorable” pick up owners.

It might be more helpful if you showed more respect for your fellow citizens and all segments of society.

It would certainly make the task for people like me, who are trying to advance adoption, far easier!

Electrifying Pick-Up Trucks

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