Earlier this year at a Tesla meeting some interesting details have been revealed about the future of the company. In a particular slide they shown two new cars being released in the near future, one of them being the Model 3 sedan. It still is unclear which one is the other car but so far it seems that the cheap crossover might not be it. Instead, the highly rumored 2018 Tesla Pickup Truck might be released first in order to cash in on a highly competitive, and lucrative, market. Elon even stated that a Tesla truck would be really impressive and it would be one of the better choices out there.
2018 Tesla Pickup Truck – More details
We would tend to agree with Elon on his statement. Having no engine in the front would free up a lot of space and it would give Tesla a real competitor on the North American car market. The only problem we see with the plan would be the range of an all electric truck. While it would easily be able to match the range of a normal truck when not loaded, things would change when weight is applied. It seems that Tesla wants to solve this problem by using new battery technology as well as a much higher capacity unit but more on that later. The price would also be a rather interesting step. Elon stated that a truck would cost more than $70,000 which is a lot more than a base F-150.
The maintenance, a winning factor
Even though it would cost a lot more, the 2018 Tesla Pickup Truck would also have a lot of advantages. Tesla would be able to install more SuperChargers which would provide more free energy to their customers. On top of that, having an all electric truck means less moving parts that can break and a much cheaper to run fleet. They would not need oil, gas or the regular maintenance a gas engine needs which would save a lot of money in the long run.
Inside and out – the design of 2018 Tesla Pickup Truck
While the look of a truck is a lot less important than what it can do, there are people choosing the better looking one of the bunch. The upcoming Tesla truck would likely borrow a lot from the S and X models which means a grille-less front end, slim headlights and a really subtle, yet aggressive, front end. The truck will likely use a bed integrated into the chassis and it would actually use a dedicated chassis which will also include the battery pack for extra strength.
The end result should be a conventional-looking truck with some tricks up its sleeve. It would feature a front-mounted trunk, likely with power outlets and storage spaces for electric tools, at least on some models. The bed would also benefit from a wide opening and a flat floor.
The heart of the electric truck
The 2018 Tesla Pickup Truck would have to be quite impressive in order to compete with the F-150 and the Silverado. It seems that it just might. It is expected to hit the market with either rear or all wheel drive. The output should be north of 400 horsepower and well over 500 lb-ft of torque across the range. The battery pack is expected to be at least double that of the Model X, so more than 160 kWh. This should give it a range of around 350 to 500 miles when empty.
The key differences will be when ti will have to tow something. The truck will have to offer at least 100 miles of range when towing its maximum capacity which is actually expected to be over 10,000 pounds. This would definitely give Ford and GM a run for their money and it would make Tesla a really interesting offering.
I’m sorry, but the mockups and price points I’ve seen online are just stupid. The idea of full EV Pickup is brilliant, but it will completely flop unless they understand why we buy pickup trucks in the first place… I’ve driven American pickup trucks all my life and it’s all about the bed, the tailgate and the only way to get a bench front seat. A tiny bed due to wanting it to look like a truck or wanting to add four doors or an extended cab is just DUMB and pointless.
Dear Tesla (or ever enters this market). Model your pickup truck after a Dodge A100 pickup truck. google that.
Push the cab all the way to the front for and put an upright bench seating for 3 adults. Single cab, Why have storage in the front?? Forget about four doors or extended cab configs. Make the bed long and deep, long enough for full sheets of plywood. Use the space above the wheel wells for accessible storage. It must have a traditional tailgate. It with lots of 110v and 12v outlets near that tailgate. Deliver it with a factory tonneu cover, bed lights and even bed climate control.
Hey Bud, You are living in the 80’s and 90’s
The pickup truck today is not as much as a work vehicle,
as it is a soccer mom’s taxi, golfing buddy outing vehicle etc.
Look I have a 2017 GMC 2500hd 4×4 pickup, I bought it (new 3 miles)
to tow my 5th wheel camper…. well at 2000 miles, yes 2k miles it developed
transmission problems. I have had it rebuilt under warranty 2 times now and
it is worse than when I got it…….. so less moving parts….. HELL YEA !!
Turn off overdrive when towing.
Great idea. Needs to meet modern light duty pickup specs to even be a consideration.
Tow >= 12,000#
Payload >= 2300#
Seating for 5 (6 with bench seat)
Wide as a fullsize truck
Has a range of at least 200 miles while towing 10,000#
Can be lifted and accommodate 35″ tires (so we don’t bury the truck up to the frame in mud/sand when pulling the toyhauler offroad…)
Range of >=300mi when not towing.
Price <=$70k
Oh and it needs to come with at least a 6′ bed that is 4′ wide