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Tesla Planning an Electric Pickup Truck, Says Elon Musk
cartechboy writes "Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk says the company will make an electric pickup truck to compete with America's best-selling Ford F-Series pickups. Musk made the comment yesterday at the end of an interview at a tech conference in New York. Surrounded by questioners, Musk was asked if Tesla would ever make commercial fleet trucks (like for UPS or Fed Ex) and he responded that a consumer truck would be the company's best answer, because America's pickup truck sales numbers don't lie — that's what buyers want, and if Tesla wants to replace the most gasoline miles possible, that's what they should build. Musk said it will be about five years before the company builds its pickup however, giving it time to focus on another hurdle: breaking into the pickup market. Texas is where trucks rule, and Texas, as we know, is the Bermuda Triangle for Tesla." That also gives me five years to save up for one, and (just maybe) five years for Ford, et al to jump in, too.
Yes! Gotta capture that redneck high-tech environmentally-friendly market.
Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
Ford has already made an electric Ranger.
So can we refer to that as a Power Ranger?
#DeleteChrome
.. Presuming it has at least a 1500 lb weight rating, can tow 30,000 lbs, all while maintaining a range of 250+ miles. Oh, and I'll need to be able to go from 0% - 100% charge in less than 30 minutes (preferably less than 5).
In rural Missouri.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
In the modern American automotive market place it has become a minor sin to have your vehicle feel burdened. I had a friend that "had" to sell his 2007 Chevy 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton because the half dozen times a year he pulled his boat and trailer the truck "strained". The boat and trailer combo was about 6000 lbs. I had to question him on it because I pulled his boat and trailer a few times with my 1997 Dodge 1/2 ton. I pointed out that my truck (with its less powerful engine, stock brakes, and decade old suspension) pulled it just fine as far as I was concerned. He was basicly upset that when he went to merge onto the highway the truck didn't accelerate like it did unloaded. I pointed out that while 6000 lbs was a substantial portion of his towing capacity it was nowhere near the limits of his truck and he should expect it affect the handling. But he was unswayed so back to the Chevy dealer he went and dropped several thousand dollars on a truck with a V8 turbo diesel. The thing that shocked me though was that among his peers in his upper middle class suburban neighbourhood, his decision was seen a perfectly sensible. They were shocked that he would even attempt to use a 1/2 ton to pull anything more substantial than a pair of jet skis.
"You can see I know very little about pimp policy." George McGovern.