Two of the biggest obstacles are cost and infrastructure.
People who are hoping to see an electrified revolution in pickup trucks should be patient. General Motors President Mark Reuss said in an interview (at the 3:45 mark), that an electric pickup truck would require some time. He spoke out about the company’s $150 million investment into Flint’s truck plant. He added there are several hurdles in place that an electric pickup has to overcome before supplanting internal-combustion-engine trucks.
Reuss says that automakers must reduce charging times. An EV battery can be damaged if it is overloaded with power. This can lead to lithium-ion plating – deposition – which forms around the anode. The U.S. should have an EV charging infrastructure that is similar to the gasoline and diesel infrastructures found across the country.
There’s also cost or cost parity. Reuss has discussed this earlier in the month. Either electric pickup trucks will be priced at the same level as gasoline-powered trucks, or they will be less expensive. During the interview, he stated that most people buy trucks to make a living. No one will pay more for work trucks. An electric pickup is not as reliable as a gasoline-powered truck. Customers expect it to tow, haul and travel long distances without any problems.
GM plans to launch 20 electric vehicles by 2023. Reuss believes that cost parity will be achieved sooner than expected. A pickup truck that is electric must go beyond customers’ expectations. Truck buyers are loyal and fervent. However, the last few years of trucks show that they are open to new powertrains and technologies.