I don’t see a big problem for most drivers under most conditions. The power issue some are concerned about only applies after battery bank is essentially drained. That can be prevented easily.
We also know rough specs from RAM that 3.6L Pentastar-driven generator can produce up to 130 kW of charge, equivalent to 174 HP. Obviously only part of that reaches driven wheels, but it’s a high percentage. Since Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 is quite a bit more powerful than Pentastar V6, it should make at least 180 kW of maximum charge, or 240 HP equivalent. I’d guess roughly 200 HP should reach driven wheels.
If trying to replace a 400 HP diesel (keeping in mind not all HP with diesel reach wheels either) and over half of that electricity can come from engine/generator, then battery bank only needs to make up difference. Even if going over Ike Gauntlet tfltruck guys use for extreme towing tests, it normally only takes 9 to 12 or so minutes. Any battery capacity that can provide 120 miles of range as empty BEV should be able to handle this worst-case scenario of additional 200 kW or less for 9~12 minutes. Then you recharge faster on way down from tunnel with regeneration.
If that’s not enough, driver can slow down some. That will reduce power requirement and allow generator to produce a higher percentage of need, thereby draining battery slower.
Additionally, Ford could bring back 5.4/5.8L taller-deck block and make an even more powerful Coyote. As I suggested in two other threads over last year, Ford could increase displacement perhaps as high as 6 Liters, making 200 kW of charging a possibility. Whether manufacturing of such an engine is physically and or economically feasible I don’t know, but I wouldn’t rule out an EREV Super Duty based on TFLT comments. Technical possibilities are much greater than those two guys imagine.
And to think that Ford considered canning the Nautilus in the U.S. entirely....
This proves that giving Lincoln a little love will result in tangible financial returns. I'm not sure why Ford's current executives don't see it.
2021 f250 front camera fault mine is in the windshield. Ford dealer said I need a new camera module? $2100 Does anyone know the part number? Do I have to calibrate if I install it?
It’s inefficient to convert gasoline to electricity but it’s the only option here. Max range with a max load up a mountain might be a lot less than expected but it should work under most other circumstances.
Completely agree that battery cost per kWh, roughly $110 at cell level in above data, is now relatively low. However, if adding a lot more battery capacity ends up adding significant vehicle weight, and also requires more space that ultimately leads to a larger vehicle, then the overall resulting cost may be much higher than battery cells alone. Having said that, when cars are small, aero, and efficient, and have small battery packs to start with, adding a little more capacity to extend range significantly shouldn’t be that detrimental in my opinion. That’s why I suggested above a new efficient compact car having 40 kWh battery instead of only 30 kWh as Lucid CEO mentioned. If that extra 10 kWh only adds roughly 130 pounds and $1,100 in cost, but extends driving range by as much as 60 miles, it seems a no brainer to me. Especially in North America. The Fiat 500e is a good example of a vehicle that is not offered with smallest battery in NA. Even the larger +/- 40 kWh battery doesn’t provide enough range because the Fiat is not particularly efficient given its tiny size.