GM Has Given a Tiny Bit of Thought to an Electric Pickup

GM’s CEO, Mary Barra, addressed some of the nation’s top college students last week and revealed that the company has given electric pick ups a “tiny bit” of thought.

Unfortunately, when pressed for followups, Barra declined to comment, but with the advent of EV popularity, it’s no surprise that GM is considering the technology.

The big three were notably challenged by Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, when he was “dying” to challenge Detroit with an electric pickup. With electric motors’ malleable drivetrain, its crazy torque, and the its ease at offering AWD, the technology does seem to lend itself well to pick up duty. Albeit with the added challenge of including a an motor in the back of the truck without getting in the way of the load floor.

Tesla isn’t alone in this, though. Back in 2016, GM offered the Silverado E-Assist. More of a hybrid than an EV, just 500 were produced and all were sold in California, because of course they were. The technology added 13 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque to the Silverado, while improving fuel economy by 13 percent in the city.

Now, Dodge is also offering a similar for mass production that it calls e-torque, which it claims will give you a 90 lb-ft torque boost in the V6 and 130 lb-ft torque boost with the V8. Although not quite as hybrid as, say, a Volt, the technology utilizes a 48-volt electrical system with a small motor that gives you boost, without really taking over the wheels.

While there are constraints to the pickup body shape, electric motors’ low down torque do lend themselves well to the pickup. And without any particular need for high speeds or low weight, a pickup could effectively hide the battery’s disadvantages.

[source: Detroit Free Press]