Update: Ford's EV 'Model T moment' Announced

[beatle]

The Cybertruck's rolled steel body means it can't have aerodynamic curves anywhere. The angled windshield and tonneau covers are good, but the roof peak where they intersect is another hard penalty. I was surprised to see how relatively poor its aero was for having such an "out there" design.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

One thing to remember is that aero is a compination of shape and size. CD is not a complete description of drag, only the shape component. Or, as the AI says (screen capture below)...

Yea, nitpicking. But I used to fly military aircraft and understanding aerodynamics was a big part of me staying alive.

 

[Daemoch]

Semis traditionally have .5 to .8, while a tesla semi has .35 apparently.
The Cybertruck is about the same as their semi at just over .3, very close to most cars (.2 to .3) and better than most trucks (.5 to .65)
For comparison, the Lamborghini Countach (1980s iconic 'supercar') has a drag coefficient of approximately 0.42, so terrible, even for back then.
So its not really about the front/grill shape in the end.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Another Ford BEV truck chief designer interview dropped today with Inside EVs. Kind of interesting. Use the chapter indexes to skip the boring chatter at the beginning.

I like this guy. He's very honest about all the challenges they bit off.

 

[WT_Door]

Another Ford BEV truck chief designer interview dropped today with Inside EVs. Kind of interesting. Use the chapter indexes to skip the boring chatter at the beginning.

I like this guy. He's very honest about all the challenges they bit off.

I thought it was very interesting (given the battery Chem debate on this forum) that they went with LFP thinking that it is the least energy dense of the chemistry especially, and it is strongly implied that they will swap for a different chemistry (for future models) to achieve greater range when prices drop.
I've also seen a different video that makes a reasonable case for the initial (LFP) battery being 60 kWhr +/-. Highly unlikely that they squeeze 300+ mi range from that.

 

[beatle]

One thing to remember is that aero is a compination of shape and size. CD is not a complete description of drag, only the shape component. Or, as the AI says (screen capture below)...

Agreed, I wish more manufacturers used total drag area as a means to market their vehicles since that's what really matters for efficiency. But since everyone sells giant cars these days, they don't want to publicly shame themselves for negating the efficiency gains of good aero with penalty of a huge body. Imagine if Lucid made a Model 3 sized car with the same aero. You could get 6 mi/kwh!

I thought it was very interesting (given the battery Chem debate on this forum) that they went with LFP thinking that it is the least energy dense of the chemistry especially, and it is strongly implied that they will swap for a different chemistry (for future models) to achieve greater range when prices drop.
I've also seen a different video that makes a reasonable case for the initial (LFP) battery being 60 kWhr +/-. Highly unlikely that they squeeze 300+ mi range from that.

I'm guessing since Ford has been leading with price, they selected LFP since it's cheaper. I agree that there's no way they're going to get 300+ miles out of a tiny LFP pack. Even the slickest, most efficient EVs (all sedans) are barely cracking 4mi/kwh, so I see the truck likely coming out in the low 200s at best. With this unpopular number, they're going to withhold this info as long as they can.

I read Alan's comments that they'll likely offer NMC later for people who want more range and are less price sensitive. This is the reverse of the Mach-E which originally started with NMC only and then started offering LFP alongside NMC to lower the price and expand its market.

 

[danielt1263]

But can it tow?

 

[GaRailroader]

But can it tow?

I think that is an unanswered question. I believe they discussed towing in the inside EVs podcast but Alan didn’t say one way or the other. Every pick-up that Ford makes is rated to tow. However, in the US the Ford Mach E is not rated to tow.

 

[GaRailroader]

Another take on the Ford EV Pick-Up. This might be where the 240 mile range estimate came from. This one speculated that the track of the rear wheels is narrower than the front wheels and hypothesized that it may have rear fender skirts like the original Ranchero. Oddly the Slate EV forum is getting more traffic related to the Ford EV Pick-Up than the EV Maverick/Ranchero forum is getting.

 

[AZFox]

But can it tow?

Every pick-up that Ford makes is rated to tow. However, in the US the Ford Mach E is not rated to tow.

Maybe towing is part of why...
Ford CEO Jim Farley Says Upcoming EV 'Really Not A Pickup'

 

[AZFox]

InsideEVs: Ford Says Towing Is 'Significantly Less Important' For Its $30,000 EV Pickup

It turns out that Ford's ideal buyer isn't someone who actually wants a truck primarily for truck things at all. In fact, that buyer may very well never even hook up a trailer or fill the bed with mulch ever. If you're reading this and questioning the entire point of making the affordable EV a pickup, then I've got some bad news for you: you're not who this truck is meant for.​

[...]​

"Towing for big trucks is very, very important. Towing for small trucks is significantly less important," Clarke said. He later continued to justify the point: "Less than 25% of Maverick owners have towed a single time in the life of the vehicle."​

 

[fuzzyweis]

"Towing for big trucks is very, very important. Towing for small trucks is significantly less important," Clarke said. He later continued to justify the point: "Less than 25% of Maverick owners have towed a single time in the life of the vehicle."​

Anyone else getting creeped out by Ford continually quoting stats like this? They know no Mach-e drivers use the frunk, very few Maverick customers tow, most F350 drivers prefer Pabst to Bud, it’s starting to get a little too big brothery. Similar to Chevy getting caught selling Bolt driver data. The Slate unplugged set up is sounding better all the time.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Anyone else getting creeped out by Ford continually quoting stats like this? They know no Mach-e drivers use the frunk, very few Maverick customers tow, most F350 drivers prefer Pabst to Bud, it’s starting to get a little too big brothery. Similar to Chevy getting caught selling Bolt driver data. The Slate unplugged set up is sounding better all the time.

Last sentence is spot on. Would you want automatic OTA updates or self-selected?