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http://image.trucktrend.com/f/...

I get that this could be useful, but where if they can make a semi-truck it seems like they could make an electric pickup.

I think the problem there is that the typical buyer of a pickup is... ummm, rather conservative so it's a harder sell. It's a big market but the typical buyer tends to have some rather backwards notions about what makes for a drool-worthy vehicle. Go pick up a copy of Diesel Power magazine if you don't believe me. These are people who all too often think getting 12mpg while belching smog is just fine and think they "need" 800ft-lbs of torque even though they rarely haul anything. I think selling them on an EV pickup is going to be a tougher sell than a family sedan.

Don't get me wrong, I'd buy an EV pickup in a heartbeat. My daily driver is a pickup and I'd happily replace it with an EV if one was good enough. All sorts of advantages to electrification of a truck. Tons of torque, electric power on tap to run power tools, more cargo space, fuel efficiency, etc. What's not to love? Though I have to admit that in many cases a hybrid pickup might make more sense especially as a work truck.

GM does major weapons systems contracting.
http://www.militaryindustrialcomplex.com/totals.asp?thisContractor=GM%20GDLS%20Defense%20Group%20LLC
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/consumer/163_1305_military_trucks/

GM built the engines for Grumman aircraft, and won a good deal of the Pacific theatre in 41-45.
GM provided the industrial manufacturing capability to produce the M16 A1 variant for southeast Asia.

I wonder when I can get an aluminum Mustang so I can polish it like a P-51.

Sweet.

Have something a little more interesting.

another relevant article

Ford's F150 has a footprint of 65-75sq feet, so it's in whole different league. Thanks for the correction

I have to wonder though, if they'll be as popular then as they are now

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2008/163_news080617_chrysler_cuts_prices_on_hybrids/index.html

Now you did say ANY type of hybrid technology ;)

Well since you don't say what they concluded about the truck tailgate myth, I'll step in with what I've heard.

My understanding is that when you keep the tailgate up it creates a high pressure bubble that forces the air over the bed of your truck. When the gate is down, the air swirls behind the cab and the resulting turbulence creates drag. The drag caused by the tailgate itself is less than the drag you'd have with no tailgate at all.

Anywho, did they test the effects of having a hard/soft cover for the bed?
Example picture with the tailgate up.

In the end, this is mostly mental a mental exercise for the /. crowd. I doubt even 1% of us drive a truck, much less anything with more than 500lbs towing capacity.