BEV Pickup Trucks

[walhondingnashua]

It did state that when something did go wrong with the EV, there's not fixing it. Things like having to completely replace an electric motor or batteries, and the price is very high on those.

 

[SpaceBus]

It did state that when something did go wrong with the EV, there's not fixing it. Things like having to completely replace an electric motor or batteries, and the price is very high on those.

Many times ICE and transmissions are totally replaced rather than rebuilt these days

 

[walhondingnashua]

Many times ICE and transmissions are totally replaced rather than rebuilt these days

Very good point... and those are not cheap either. A check mark on the side of the EV.

 

[EbS-P]

Eventually you will see used parts, and third party parts for EVs. Probably not third party batteries any time soon. But drive units sure. All these teslas that get a major fender bender get totaled. Those parts are going into some supply chain somewhere.

 

[blades]

Had a vw beetle back in the mid 70's, yep heat tubes rotted out used a 12v heater fan assemble as a window defroster. taught the ex how to drive stick in that. It never died on me cold or hot. got from a younger guy for cheap, he had put over sized tires in the back with flared out fenders, fun in the snow sending rooster tails up. Never needed to wrench on it unlike my 70 skylark or my 64 rocket 88 which was my trailer dragger (40x ci eng.)

 

[begreen]

And now RAM joins the ring.

CES 2023: Ram electric pickup joins crowded field next year

DETROIT (AP) — When a futuristic-looking electric Ram pickup truck goes on sale next year, it will hardly be the first in line. By then, at least seven EV competitors are scheduled to be on sale, all of them vying for a share of the huge full-size truck market that now includes the three...

apnews.com

 

[boomfire]

 

[begreen]

It did state that when something did go wrong with the EV, there's not fixing it. Things like having to completely replace an electric motor or batteries, and the price is very high on those.

Electric vehicles in general are definitely lower maintenance. The most common servicing is tire rotation and battery system coolant check. The latter gets flushed and replaced around the 5yr or 100k mile mark. With regenerative braking the brakes may last over 100,000 miles. Actually, in the east, with road salting, the rear brake rotors often need to be replaced due to rusting with their low usage. There are no oil changes or ignition system components. The steering system is electric, not hydraulic. There's no exhaust system.

Although failures in big components are uncommon and most companies have long drivetrain warranties for these components. they can happen. It's actually smaller failures that can be most annoying and at times exasperating, like when the supply chain for electronics is disrupted. Component failures like the BECM or coolant pump system can brick the car/truck in spite of the prime components like the battery and motor(s) being fine. It's a rough world out there for electronics. They need to withstand wide temperature ranges, grid system spikes, RF interference, etc. and be protected from moisture, corrosion, shock, etc. And, if parts are coming from overseas, supply chain disruptions can make a relatively quick fix take months. Though, FWIW, this can affect ICE vehicles as well.

 

[tlc1976]

Electric vehicles in general are definitely lower maintenance. The most common servicing is tire rotation and battery system coolant check. The latter gets flushed and replaced around the 5yr or 100k mile mark. With regenerative braking the brakes may last over 100,000 miles. Actually, in the east, with road salting, the rear brake rotors often need to be replaced due to rusting with their low usage. There are no oil changes or ignition system components. The steering system is electric, not hydraulic. There's no exhaust system.

Although failures in big components are uncommon and most companies have long drivetrain warranties for these components. they can happen. It's actually smaller failures that can be most annoying and at times exasperating, like when the supply chain for electronics is disrupted. Component failures like the BECM or coolant pump system can brick the car/truck in spite of the prime components like the battery and motor(s) being fine. It's a rough world out there for electronics. They need to withstand wide temperature ranges, grid system spikes, RF interference, etc. and be protected from moisture, corrosion, shock, etc. And, if parts are coming from overseas, supply chain disruptions can make a relatively quick fix take months. Though, FWIW, this can affect ICE vehicles as well.

In a case of a component failure despite motor and battery being fine, do EVs have a limp home mode? So one can slowly get home, to a shop, or get to safety? Even if it is some jumpers under the hood. In an ICE vehicle, unless it’s one of a few key components dead, there are usually things I can do to get myself home.

 

[begreen]

In a case of a component failure despite motor and battery being fine, do EVs have a limp home mode? So one can slowly get home, to a shop, or get to safety? Even if it is some jumpers under the hood. In an ICE vehicle, unless it’s one of a few key components dead, there are usually things I can do to get myself home.

In some cases yes, but it depends on the nature of the failure.

One can only jump the 12v battery, not the 400+v main battery. AAA and others are starting to have mobile charging stations so in some cases that may be an option.

 

[EbS-P]

In a case of a component failure despite motor and battery being fine, do EVs have a limp home mode? So one can slowly get home, to a shop, or get to safety? Even if it is some jumpers under the hood. In an ICE vehicle, unless it’s one of a few key components dead, there are usually things I can do to get myself home.

There are lots of stories where owners had 30 seconds warning before complete shutdown. Teslas don’t even have a spare tire.

 

[Ashful]

Teslas don’t even have a spare tire.

Neither does my ICE. If I recall, there's a 12V battery inflator and a some fancy Mopar-brand equivalent of fix-a-flat where the spare tire should be. I believe the tires are run flat design, so it appears to be a bit of a belt atop suspenders. I believe the choice to not provide a spare is based upon it having a posi-traction rear differential, and concerns that some customers may be too stupid or lazy to move the spare to a front hub if the flat occurs on the rear.

But I wonder what reason Tesla could have for not providing a spare? Surely the electronics could be set to "spare tire mode" to account of the difference in wheel rotational speed, due to a smaller spare.

 

[begreen]

It's become a common trend. Not having a spare increases user available volume and reduces the cost of manufacture.

 

[Ashful]

It's become a common trend. Not having a spare increases user available volume and reduces the cost of manufacture.

A lot of things have changed for the better, from each generation to the next. But at the same time, I do think we've lost something when the rite of passage that was once learning how to change to a spare tire becomes only knowing how to renew your AAA membership.

My kids will still learn how to change a tire, even if I have to show them on an antique car!

 

[begreen]

I feel this way about manual transmissions. There is something valuable about the hand/mind/machine connection that I miss. They are history with EVs.

The very first time I drove, I fixed a flat tire first. My sister had been babysitting. When the wife dropped her off she found she had a flat tire. It was night so hubby just picked her up and said he'd deal with the flat the next day after work. I was 13 and had nothing else to do on that next summer day, so I checked and saw the keys were still in the car. (very quiet neighborhood). I then checked the spare and saw it was in good shape so I elected to change the tire. Although I had never done this before, I had watched my dad do it and decided I could handle it. The switch went as planned, no surprises. Then I thought well, it would be best to move the car off the road. Although I had never driven by myself I had been mentally practicing shifting in my dad's old truck that was parked nearby for a couple of years. That practice paid off. I drove the Valiant around the block and parked it nicely. Pretty cheeky of me looking back, but fortunately all was well and the people were delighted to see the flat exchanged.

 

[SpaceBus]

I too lament the demise of manual transmissions in new cars. I've only owned one vehicle with an automatic transmission out of nearly a dozen.

 

[tlc1976]

I would prefer a manual transmission, but I can see where if there’s not enough demand, it’s not worth the additional engineering and tooling.

I do think it’s silly for any car to not come with a jack and spare, or at least be able to offer it. But I suppose it’s not just cost cutting, but removing the liability if someone isn’t careful and gets hurt or killed.

I always make sure to have a proper jack, wrench, and spare. Whether the car came with it or not.

 

[Ashful]

I would prefer a manual transmission, but I can see where if there’s not enough demand, it’s not worth the additional engineering and tooling.

Not my area of expertise, but from what I've heard, the engineering and tooling is not really the primary obstacle. In some cases, car platforms originally developed and safety and emissions tested for auto only, are later re-used in an application where customer demand and engineering or marketing desire might want to push toward optional manual transmission, but the costs of re-doing tests which are already paid and completed to an older standard can be prohibitive to the release of new models that might not yield enough added demand for the manual option.

Back before safety and emissions testing became such a large fraction of the development cost, it was indeed very common to see both auto and manual always available. There was also more demand for manual, because the auto transmissions were pretty crappy on both performance and reliability, by today's standards.

I do think it’s silly for any car to not come with a jack and spare, or at least be able to offer it. But I suppose it’s not just cost cutting, but removing the liability if someone isn’t careful and gets hurt or killed.

Never considered that, but it may be a factor. Of course, most still come with a jack and a spare, so it can be that alone. I also don't buy the cost thing as a sole argument, as the 12V compressor and other accessories they stuck in the spot where I should have a spare doesn't look much cheaper than a spare donut. I think it has a lot to do with traction control electronics, occasionally posi traction or limited slip differentials, and the increased commonality of run-flat tires.

 

[SpaceBus]

There is almost zero demand for manual transmissions, so why waste the money on development? As much as I love manuals, some of the new automatic transmissions ( particularly the ZF 8sp with torque converter used by FCa and BMW) are just really good. I also really like a well done DCT in a light weight sports car. The DCT used in the now defunct Mitsu Evo X was 👌

 

[Ashful]

I’ve owned three ZF8’s in the last six years. Excellent transmissions, especially performance variants (eg. SRT cars with ZF 8HP90). But I’d still prefer rowing gears manually, even knowing the auto has better performance. I’m not racing (anymore), and clutch will always beat auto for fun factor. I also prefer manual trucks in bad weather, I feel more confident in knowing what’s happening between my tires and the pavement with a clutch and gearbox.

 

[EbS-P]

I’ve owned three ZF8’s in the last six years. Excellent transmissions, especially performance variants (eg. SRT cars with ZF 8HP90). But I’d still prefer rowing gears manually, even knowing the auto has better performance. I’m not racing (anymore), and clutch will always beat auto for fun factor. I also prefer manual trucks in bad weather, I feel more confident in knowing what’s happening between my tires and the pavement with a clutch and gearbox.

With traction control I’m more confident with an auto above 20 mph. It will react much faster than I ever will.

After you dive an EV for (even Toyotas CVT hybrid) for more than a month you find gears, auto or manual, as pointless, unnecessary, crude and distracting to the driving experience.

Are run flats still a thing? If you don’t have a spare you don’t need a Jack. I have been known to take long road trips with both a temp spare and a full-size. I look ridiculous with a full size spare hanging off the back of my mini van. And I’ve never needed it on the road trips.

 

[SpaceBus]

I’ve owned three ZF8’s in the last six years. Excellent transmissions, especially performance variants (eg. SRT cars with ZF 8HP90). But I’d still prefer rowing gears manually, even knowing the auto has better performance. I’m not racing (anymore), and clutch will always beat auto for fun factor. I also prefer manual trucks in bad weather, I feel more confident in knowing what’s happening between my tires and the pavement with a clutch and gearbox.

I agree, torque converters are spooky in slippery conditions. I also prefer wheeling with a manual, especially when there's a lot of torque available. That ZF8 is so good, I really don't miss a manual when driving it. Most of my experience was behind the wheel of a 2015 (?) BMW 335i M-Sport that ran 13's in the 1/4, but got 35 MPG highway. It was super fun with Hoosier slicks (purple crack) on an autocross course at the Corvette museum.

With traction control I’m more confident with an auto above 20 mph. It will react much faster than I ever will.

After you dive an EV for (even Toyotas CVT hybrid) for more than a month you find gears, auto or manual, as pointless, unnecessary, crude and distracting to the driving experience.

Are run flats still a thing? If you don’t have a spare you don’t need a Jack. I have been known to take long road trips with both a temp spare and a full-size. I look ridiculous with a full size spare hanging off the back of my mini van. And I’ve never needed it on the road trips.

The practical benefits of a CVT, particularly for low gearing, are numerous, but I can't stand driving one. Having the engine at the same RPM all the time is not enjoyable. I have limited CVT experience, mainly in a Nissan Sentra rental and test driving a Nissan Juke NISMO RS AWD. Having one in a sporty car should be a crime, I put my foot down in that Juke NISMO and it took what felt like forever to pick a ratio and accelerate.

 

[boomfire]

Our ioniq 5 doesnt come with a spare as well. Had a flat tire last month, there was a huge gash. it was unfixable with the crappy tire mobility kit that came with car.

We live in middle of nowhere, called hyundai and a vehicle service (we a separate program that we were enrolled into), both said a 2-4 Hour window for pickup and drop off to nearest Hyundai dealer (1 hour away). So she was pretty much stranded. But luckily it happened near by a tireshop, wife walked in there and asked for help, guys there were nice enough to come and assess the situation. Swapped temporarily with a spare tire and asked her to drive slowly to the shop, They didnt have any tires that i was looking for, I ordered from tirerack and they delivered overnight. 3 hours of my time and 1 Day of hers wasted.

Personally, If i lived in an urban area like i used to, it would not have been much of an issue, but living in rural, i would prefer a spare tire. i am looking for a spare rim now, just to have as a backup.

 

[EbS-P]

Our ioniq 5 doesnt come with a spare as well. Had a flat tire last month, there was a huge gash. it was unfixable with the crappy tire mobility kit that came with car.

We live in middle of nowhere, called hyundai and a vehicle service (we a separate program that we were enrolled into), both said a 2-4 Hour window for pickup and drop off to nearest Hyundai dealer (1 hour away). So she was pretty much stranded. But luckily it happened near by a tireshop, wife walked in there and asked for help, guys there were nice enough to come and assess the situation. Swapped temporarily with a spare tire and asked her to drive slowly to the shop, They didnt have any tires that i was looking for, I ordered from tirerack and they delivered overnight. 3 hours of my time and 1 Day of hers wasted.

Personally, If i lived in an urban area like i used to, it would not have been much of an issue, but living in rural, i would prefer a spare tire. i am looking for a spare rim now, just to have as a backup.

The spare even if not on the car all the time Makes lots of sense.

 

[boomfire]

The spare even if not on the car all the time Makes lots of sense.

Yep thats the idea, If going on a long road trip, it will go along. Local (Over 80%) driving It will stay home.