The electrical circuitry for EV cars is not simple. Would say it's close to a even trade off when you get deep into it.
The components that make up the PC boards to make the wheels spin is extensive.

Unless they are able to provide adequate range and plenty of charging stations i wouldnt. Plus what would you carry in replacement of jerry cans? Huge power banks?!

I think the most likely thing to happen first is for a manufacturer to offer an SUV or truck that is full electric, but doesn't have the tow capabilities of a gasoline engine. Could totally be wrong though. It seems like having the power to tow something and having that battery power last long enough is probably a few decades away.

However, I do see a truck or SUV without towing capabilities potentially happening. I would love an electric Tacoma or 4Runner. I would probably prefer something that was a hybrid first.

The hybrid option would make the most sense… at least until charging and range is better addressed.


From a performance standpoint, electric motos makes it’s max torque at 0 RPM… it’s an ideal solution to getting a big heavy load moving. If they used electric to torque fill or assist in getting the truck going, it would probably help performance and gas mileage dramatically.

Even if they didn’t do it with batteries, they could accomplish it with super capacitors… which could capture charge from regenerative breaking and alternator. Regenerative breaking being the ideal solution as it can also be used to slow the truck or load, similar to a jake brake in a big rig.

Plus caps last forever, can deliver a ton of power, charge super-fast… don’t need a ton of them, just enough to help with torque fill. Plus its already being done… just not in anything I can afford (supercars). Proof of concept is there.

By the time they come up with a REALISTIC and viable electric version of a 4WD SUV, the technology will be so much better.
Kinda why they're sticking to just small to mid size cars at the moment.

I have an hour commute (each way)...
and I don't go off-road...
so as long as it could manage Pennsylvania winter weather...I'd be up for it.

Look into the company Rivian. US based company, I believe in Oregon. Full electric truck and SUV. Amazon just invested $700 million into them. Exciting times.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it yet but Toyota had the EV Rav4 with the Tesla drivetrain for a short minute. Was a pretty interesting vehicle.

At least they've been thinking about the concept for a while!

Yeah, that's about the one vehicle out into the future of serious interest to me. The 5th gen gives me the best of the old tech without any of the currently popular stuff I do not care about. So, the next vehicle rather be a true leap forward in terms of what makes a 4x4 what it is and not just give me less power and more electronics I don't need.

On paper, it is perfect, in fact too good to be true: super capability out of the box for any trail worth driving for the scenery (goodbye aftermarket), great street performance, one electric motor per wheel (goodbye traditional power and drivetrains), and 400 mile range, which is enough for offroading in the Southwest in stock/near stock form and reasonable weight.

With 100k msrp for the version that offers all of the above, it might be possible. The way electrics lose value, it may be a bargain at 3 years old.

But in addition to "I will believe it when I see it," I worry about the battery life in the SW heat.

EDIT: the plug in Wrangler is in principle interesting to me down the road, once the kids are on their own and maybe the issues will be resolved by then but the moment the thought of a Jeep crosses my mind, I get to read something like the piece on the link below. I mean, it is hard to buy from a company like that Jeep Liberty Owners With Sky Slider Roof Are Screwed

Tesla launches new Supercharger with 1,000 mph charging, better efficiency, and more

Not quite as quick as a fuel up but it's getting there.

Electric cars are a very cool innovation, but most are not yet ready for them. I think the EV market will take at least a few more years to develop. Also, do not forget that many cities are simply not adapted for electric vehicles. The lack of charging stations is a big disadvantage for owners of electric vehicles and so far no one is in a hurry to solve this problem ... Usually I use maps to find a charging station, but there are times when they indicated, but in the real world they are simply absent. That is why, when I travel long distances, I use various forums like https: //myev.online dedicated to electric vehicles in order to find out where I can find a charging station. To be honest, this is very inconvenient, but so far I have not found a more reliable solution.

I think my biggest concern would be water intrusion into electrics. That said, I'd like to see a diesel generator electric, like locomotives. Seems the best of both worlds.

My wife drives a 2013 Tesla Model S that's at about 57,000 miles, but I get to drive it when she needs to haul dirty stuff. I've always been a gear-head and never expected to like the Tesla as much as I do. The ONLY drawbacks I can see to an EV off-roader are range and water fording (the batteries and circuit boards better be well protected).
Can you just imagine how sweet it would be rolling down the trail and only hearing the sound of your tires crushing leaves? Or, actually being able to hear your spotter tell you to "turn passenger"?

Yeah the lack of charging stations really becomes an issue if you travel to another city. I haven't had many issues with 290 mile range within Houston. The closest call I've had was getting home with 30 miles left on the battery. I never full charge the vehicle though and I've hit up the superchargers in Houston a few times just in case but I've never hit range anxiety that people have mentioned on the EV forums.

I still have my guzzlers though but they get driven maybe 5% of the time.

Although several decades away, there is talk of satellite solar collectors and then a power transfer through the atmosphere. The technology is way beyond my comprehension, but whether it would be a solar transfer to collectors on the earth, or an electrical transfer, similar to your cell phone charging stations you have in your vehicles now, is the question. It would be on a much larger scale obviously. That technology would help the range limitations. Although weather might possibly hinder that type of transfer.
The elephant in the room that the EV world doesn't talk about much is old battery disposal. Nasty stuff that is akin to radioactive waste from what I've read. Hopefully someone develops a recycle process that would eliminate a lot of the possible environmental problems. I used my Noco jump pack the other day for someone stuck at the store a couple days ago. I had not taken it out of the box for almost a year, and it was still reading 100% and started him right up. Lithium tech is pretty cool stuff. I do believe one day it will be a viable full power source with guys like Elon Musk always thinking outside the box.

Capacitors last forever? yeah, ask how many people have had to replace capacitors on their home AC system...