Diesel pickups are for chumps

[CS1983]

Maybe instead of rolling coal, trucks of the future will have Tesla coils instead of exhaust pipes and put out displays of sparks.

[Skip]

It's a great idea seeing as there is no top end on pickup prices.

[BlasterBob]

There's a reason ships use electric motors to power the props and diesel engines to recharge the batteries or power the motors in a pinch ... ;-)

Same with Railroad Diesel locomotives where the diesel merely supplies current to the traction motors. However, not too efficient when attempting to operate on flooded tracks.

[Zundfolge]

I think I'd rather have the Bollinger, but that's kind a nifty.

[Irving]

Seems like it'd be easy enough to use this technology in trailers to have an electric power assist on the axle of the trailer. If you're only using it up steep grades, the charge should last longer and allow for a smaller battery pack. I'm sure there are much more cool ways to integrate that system into a bigger trailer like a fifth wheel as well.

Better gas mileage for the tow vehicle, integrated electrical for the living spaces, solar panels on top, lots of possibilities.

[Gman]

It takes energy to recharge batteries, so you can't create a perpetual electric motor system that regenerates itself by turning the wheels without a loss somewhere else. Charging the trailer would increase load on the tow vehicle.

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[Martinjmpr]

Seems like it'd be easy enough to use this technology in trailers to have an electric power assist on the axle of the trailer. If you're only using it up steep grades, the charge should last longer and allow for a smaller battery pack. I'm sure there are much more cool ways to integrate that system into a bigger trailer like a fifth wheel as well.

Better gas mileage for the tow vehicle, integrated electrical for the living spaces, solar panels on top, lots of possibilities.

Hmmm..interesting idea. It would certainly change the way vehicles tow.

Biggest issue I can see is cost and complexity. Might work with big commercial trailers but for anything that is for sale to a private user I would think such technology would be cost prohibitive.

I've seen first-hand the kinds of "corner cutting" that is necessary in order to sell RVs at a competitive price, so I can't imagine this making the cut to a consumer.

[Gman]

The window lines on the Atlis rendered images look like a Chevy Colorado.

Yes, electric motors can produce loads of torque (this is why trains have been using them for decades). You don't get something for nothing. More batteries = more weight to start and stop. More batteries = longer recharge times. Until they can come up with a better way to store electricity, you aren't going to have something you can run as long as there's fuel in the tank.

For OTR electric trucks, they will probably come up with interchangeable battery packs at some point (if they keep heading down that path).

A hybrid makes more sense to me. Use the regenerative braking and electric motors for getting going again.

[Irving]

It takes energy to recharge batteries, so you can't create a perpetual electric motor system that regenerates itself by turning the wheels without a loss somewhere else. Charging the trailer would increase load on the tow vehicle.

I'm not talking about any charging while towing, except for when braking. It'd just be like whatever is used in an electric vehicle, only simpler.

Hmmm..interesting idea. It would certainly change the way vehicles tow.

Biggest issue I can see is cost and complexity. Might work with big commercial trailers but for anything that is for sale to a private user I would think such technology would be cost prohibitive.

I've seen first-hand the kinds of "corner cutting" that is necessary in order to sell RVs at a competitive price, so I can't imagine this making the cut to a consumer.

I think it'd really have a market on big rigs, in fact to the point that I'm surprised it's not a government requirement already. A big rig could even have a diesel generator I suppose. Retrofitting truck stops to incorporate charging stations seems reasonable. The re-charge under braking would be even more helpful for big rigs.

As for personally owned recreational trailers, I don't see how cost would be much of an issue. Those are pure luxury items to begin with and people spend incredible amounts on them to start with. The durability of trailers could increase and the extra weight wouldn't be as big of a deal with the electric assist. I'd think a possible limiting factor would be the total weight of the trailer for periods of no assist. If the trailer battery runs out, then you just tow like normal. However, I could see people buying stuff that is realistically too big for their tow vehicle, with the idea that they'll never run out of battery, then getting into trouble when they do. I wish I were in the position to capitalize on this idea. I'd start looking into this today if I was already a trailer manufacturer.

[Gman]

Regen braking puts some electrons back in the batteries, but the method alone is insufficient. You also have to account for the extra weight of the trailers for the motors and electrics. There's also a reason that electric vehicles concentrate so much effort on aerodynamics as moving air takes more effort/energy. The Atlis concept is about as aerodynamic as a backyard shed.

For the vehicle in the OP, The Ford F-150 3.0l Power Stroke Diesel has a range over 750 miles and officially gets 30 mpg (but I did see a video review where they got 33.6 mpg on a one tank road trip). Fill the tank in a few minutes and you have another 750.