The hybrid architecture doesn't really matter anymore. EV buyers already have their BEVs. They won't be switching to EREV. What EREV does is allow someone that hates EVs to feel like they're not another EV driver with low range problems when in fact they're very likely going to be filling-up their EREV tank once or twice in 12 months.
This is called a "series hybrid" rather than the more common "parallel hybrid" (eg Toyota Prius) and has been around for a while, including the BMW i3 with range extender (and London buses, and various other vehicles!). It's more expensive largely because the battery pack needs to be sized much larger to be able to provide enough current for all propulsion / regen. On the other hand, the combustion engine can be undersized and run at its most efficient RPM continuously - the BMW range extender is a 600cc little scooter engine that can provide enough power for continuous highway driving.
That's what I was thinking, sounds just like the Volt. The Volt was a very practical vehicle, drove great and cost so little to fuel up. Most weeks I owned the Volt I wouldn't put gas in it, in fact I would go so long without using the ICE sometimes that the car would fire up the engine for automated "engine maintenance".
In the winter it would only get about 60KM all-eletric range, but for daily city driving or a short commute, that was generally fine. In summer the range was closer to 120KM.
This new truck is supposed to get 233KM electric range, which will be more than enough for both city driving and the majority of commutes, round trip. With the DC fast charge, you can also add 80KM in 10mins which isn't too bad. I think this makes it a very practical vehicle for most folks. Even trades people using it as a work truck where they drive to a site and perhaps use the truck for power will be able to go without using the ICE probably 90% of the time.
> Car and Driver estimates that the vehicle will run at least $60,000. Ram’s gas-powered truck, meanwhile, starts at $42,000.
I don't know how much of this is attributable to truck culture, how much is newfangled tech, and how much is the changing landscape of capitalism, but this drives me nuts.
Until two years ago. The most expensive car my family had bought was US$20k, a then four year old CR-V. Last year, we bought a then two year old ID.4 at a little over $30k. That was a bit of a tough pill for me to swallow, but I wanted a vehicle with less maintenance than an ICE car and less fuel cost. Admittedly, than $30k will take a long time to recover (but electricity is certainly much cheaper than gas, especially today).
But a $60k vehicle? There is no way I'm going to rationalize that kind of purchase. I already said 'no' to that when Ford hiked the price of the Lightning and my only option was an upper-tier model around that price point.
This feels very similar to what Edison Motors is doing for the trucking industry. Electric powertrain with on-board generator.
https://edisonmotors.ca/
The hybrid architecture doesn't really matter anymore. EV buyers already have their BEVs. They won't be switching to EREV. What EREV does is allow someone that hates EVs to feel like they're not another EV driver with low range problems when in fact they're very likely going to be filling-up their EREV tank once or twice in 12 months.
This is called a "series hybrid" rather than the more common "parallel hybrid" (eg Toyota Prius) and has been around for a while, including the BMW i3 with range extender (and London buses, and various other vehicles!). It's more expensive largely because the battery pack needs to be sized much larger to be able to provide enough current for all propulsion / regen. On the other hand, the combustion engine can be undersized and run at its most efficient RPM continuously - the BMW range extender is a 600cc little scooter engine that can provide enough power for continuous highway driving.
https://archive.ph/fpq1v
Is this new? A freind's BMW i3 had one of these many years ago. (Defnitely pre covid)
edit: the frist generation was 2013
I guess "previously rare" just doesn't sound as exciting as "new", never mind the facts. Journalism in $currentYear...
So.. the Chevrolet Volt approach?
That's what I was thinking, sounds just like the Volt. The Volt was a very practical vehicle, drove great and cost so little to fuel up. Most weeks I owned the Volt I wouldn't put gas in it, in fact I would go so long without using the ICE sometimes that the car would fire up the engine for automated "engine maintenance".
In the winter it would only get about 60KM all-eletric range, but for daily city driving or a short commute, that was generally fine. In summer the range was closer to 120KM.
This new truck is supposed to get 233KM electric range, which will be more than enough for both city driving and the majority of commutes, round trip. With the DC fast charge, you can also add 80KM in 10mins which isn't too bad. I think this makes it a very practical vehicle for most folks. Even trades people using it as a work truck where they drive to a site and perhaps use the truck for power will be able to go without using the ICE probably 90% of the time.
> Car and Driver estimates that the vehicle will run at least $60,000. Ram’s gas-powered truck, meanwhile, starts at $42,000.
I don't know how much of this is attributable to truck culture, how much is newfangled tech, and how much is the changing landscape of capitalism, but this drives me nuts.
Until two years ago. The most expensive car my family had bought was US$20k, a then four year old CR-V. Last year, we bought a then two year old ID.4 at a little over $30k. That was a bit of a tough pill for me to swallow, but I wanted a vehicle with less maintenance than an ICE car and less fuel cost. Admittedly, than $30k will take a long time to recover (but electricity is certainly much cheaper than gas, especially today).
But a $60k vehicle? There is no way I'm going to rationalize that kind of purchase. I already said 'no' to that when Ford hiked the price of the Lightning and my only option was an upper-tier model around that price point.