General Motors
Thank you Rudolph Diesel for your engine. 1897 – 2035.
Words by Perry Mack
With all the recent news about electric trucks, you’d think the combustion engine was on life support, especially diesels. They have been vilified by scandals like Volkswagen’s ‘dieselgate.’ The folks who have seen fit to remove their emission control devices aren’t helping either since modified diesel engines often belch black particulate with every push of the skinny pedal.
Canada and many other eco-conscious countries have decided to ban the sales of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Some countries like Norway have decided sooner – 2025 – just three years away.
Can we Abandon our Combustion Engines?
There are many benefits to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) but will the unseen drawbacks prolong our need for carbon fuel and in particular, diesel engines, the workhorse of industry and recreation?
First, let’s briefly mention the benefits. BEVs should require less maintenance. They don’t have any belts, timing chains, or emission control devices to repair or replace and there isn’t engine noise while driving. All you hear is the sound of the wind and tires. Oil changes are not required and there is less NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) resulting in improved ride comfort.
Perry Mack
Will there be a viable alternative by 2035? Our 2011 Chevy Duramax diesel is unaffected by cold, tows over 20,000 lb on a 5th wheel hitch and can get 800 km on a tank.
We are drawn to the incredible horsepower, torque, and acceleration, which dollar for dollar, can be less expensive to purchase than what you pay with a combustion engine vehicle. Speaking of expense, who doesn’t love the idea of not paying all the taxes tacked on to our fuel purchases?
Lower maintenance, better ride, and cheap fuel. So why aren’t we rushing to replace all our trucks and trail rigs with BEVs? Well, there are quite a few issues that haven’t been worked out yet, which are all practical concerns that will keep our diesel trucks on the road, trail, and worksites for a long time to come.
If your conscience is driving you towards BEVs because they don’t produce noxious gasses from the vehicle, remember that not having a tailpipe doesn’t make them 100% green. Their emissions are traced back to the source of the electricity. They are only as green as the power used to produce the electricity. The power produced by coal, natural gas and nuclear reaction has nasty byproducts. Let’s not forget, the mining practices used to harvest the metals to create the batteries are rarely environmentally friendly. Battery Electric Vehicles may appear to wear a halo but it’s not quite as bright as their promoters would make us believe.
Although you ‘may’ not be able to buy a new diesel truck after 2035, governments haven’t said they’ll ban fuel, parts and repair services. This means if you buy your truck before 2035, you should be able to continue driving it for years after.
Ford Motor Company
The first pick-up from the big three provides the kind of power numbers we like with 563 horsepower, 775 lb-ft of torque, and a driving range of about 483 km (300 mi) on a single charge with the extended battery.
BEVs Come at a Price
While the ability to use a truck beyond 2035 sounds like good news, expect fuel taxes to rise. The switch to an electric vehicle (EV) continues to be expensive with incentives for consumer purchase.
If we follow Norway’s route, there will be discounts for EV owners on ferries, tolls, and parking, plus reduced taxes on leases, and tax breaks for company vehicles. Nevertheless, someone has to pay for all these EV discounts so you can expect carbon fuels to have an added sin tax like alcohol and tobacco.
What about the distance drivers can travel on a single charge? The ‘promised’ range of the newest BEV light-duty truck sounds reasonable at roughly 640 km (400 mi). Electric vehicles can achieve close to 100 percent of their unloaded rated range when the weather is between 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F) as long as you’re not using your AC.
Unfortunately, the advertised range doesn’t consider cold temperatures. A study of 4,200 vehicles driving 5.2 million trips revealed that at -15°C (5°F) the rated range decreased by 54 percent. So, that $100,000 truck can only travel 294 km (184 mi) without a load. If you opt for a less expensive battery pack, the 320 km (200 mi) range may only run 147 km (92 mi).
But wait, there’s more. Actually, we should say less. Rivian estimates that the R1T’s range will be reduced by 50 percent while towing the maximum capacity of 11,000 lbs. Does this mean that towing at cold temperatures could reduce the range of a BEV by 75 percent? Will a top-of-the-line BEV truck that started at 640 km (400 mi) now only run 160 km (50 mi) on a charge in the winter?
General Motors
No combustion engine delivers a better ride and more storage space in the Silverado EV
Charge Times and Charge Stations
As an urban commuter, the 2022 Nissan Leaf with the 62 kWh battery has a promised range of 363 km (226 mi). Even at 50 percent less due to cold temperatures, the reduced 180 km (112 mi) range should get most folks to work, do groceries, and home again. That works.
A BEV can be fully charged overnight (9 to 13 hours using a 7kW home charger) and be ready to fulfill the next day’s duties. These 120V home charges add roughly 48 km (30 mi) of charge per hour. Unfortunately, this means trucks with a 200 kWh battery will take a little more than 13 hours to charge.
If you need a full charge for work, you’ll have to be plugged in at 5 pm to leave for work at 6 am, unless you have a fast charger. DC fast chargers call for 50 to 100 amps. Many homes only have 100-amp service, and can you afford to cut the usage in half? Probably not. This means an expensive upgrade to a 200-amp service.
A working truck will likely need to be charged during the day. The Silverado EV currently has a fast projected charge ability of 35 kW using a DC fast charger. GM says this is the equivalent of adding 160 km (100 mi) of range in 10 minutes. Not too shabby. Unfortunately, this 160 km (100 mi) will be significantly reduced when it’s cold and you’re towing a load. It will also take longer than 10 minutes if you can’t find a DC fast charger, and there’s a line-up.
Rivian
The Rivian R1T was tested as an overland vehicle and, aside from the typical EV charging challenges, performed well.
In the race to increase range and charge times, the Atlis XT pick-up reigns supreme with a promised range of 800 km (500 mi) in the top trim and a full charge in just 15 minutes using their in-house AAC/1.5-megawatt charger. They promise heavy-duty truck performance and have recently unveiled a prototype.
Regardless, we will need a great deal more fast-charge stations, which are hopefully designed with space for vehicles towing a trailer, to compensate for the increase of BEVs. In 2020, just 3.5 percent of vehicles were a BEV in Canada. With a target of 50 percent by 2030, Canada would need 15 times the number of charge stations just to maintain the current level of service.
The other factor affecting range is deep discharge. This happens when you continually travel close to the battery’s expected range before charging and as a result, reduces the battery range more quickly. This is just one other reason why purchasing a vehicle with the longest range available (e.g. most expensive) is very important.
Toyota
New entries to the BEV truck space continue to be announced like the unnamed Tacoma-sized pick-up from Toyota.
Battery Warranties and Cost
Yes, there are battery warranties but all warranties contain fine print and they (like other car warranties) are not all the same. Federal regulation in the U.S. mandates that electric car batteries be covered for a minimum of eight years. However, the percentage of range changes. For a Leaf it’s 75 percent but for the Bolt it’s 60 percent.
In other words, if your truck has a range of 640 km (398 mi) with a 75 percent warranty, it could drop to a range of 480 km (298 mi) in eight years and not be covered under warranty. Time to open your wallet.
Lithium-ion battery pack prices averaged $132 USD per kWh in 2021. This means that the cost of the max configuration of the 200-kWh battery pack in the new Silverado EV would be $26,400 USD. This is just the battery cost. We haven’t heard the words ‘DIY’ for battery replacement, so expect installation charges on top of this.
It’s true that battery prices have decreased over the last 10 years but the forecast for 2022 is that prices are expected to remain stable or increase, which, as a result, could decrease as production rises but they could also increase if demand outstrips supply.
These hidden costs could add up to a delay in the ban on the sale of new diesel trucks in 2035 if the voting public forces government to legislate improved warranties on battery life before manufacturers can deliver them.
Atlis
With a potential time of 15 minutes to reach a full charge, an 800 km (497 mi) range, a towing capacity of up to 35,000 lb using a 5th wheel hitch, the Atlis XT is the closest competitor to today’s diesel trucks.
Power Supply and Demand
There are other potential sources of a delayed ban. If we’re going to add millions of BEVs, where will the power come from? Coal-fired and nuclear plants are being shuttered. Will we have hydro, solar and wind to support the addition of millions of vehicles? Within 13 short years, will our existing grid be able to handle the demand of every household charging their vehicles overnight?
One side says the grid will be able to handle it and the other side warns of power shortages. We don’t believe in an electrical doomsday; future governments will recognize if the necessary infrastructure and technological development hasn’t been put in place. The date to ban combustion engines will probably be pushed ahead. If not, make sure you have a few diesel trucks in storage so you can keep on truckin’ until they ban your fuel.
We also don’t expect the combustion engine ban to be 100 percent since industries like the military, farming, marine, construction and trucking will be dependent on diesel for some time to come. A good extensive read on the subject is Racing Toward Zero: The Untold Story of Driving Green authored by Kelly Senecal and Felix Leach, both members of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Nissan
Overnight full charging for urban commutes without towing are the domain of the Nissan Leaf and most other BEVs.
Will today's BEV take you off-road? Yes, but not with the safety and convenience of a combustion engine. The closest bet would be the Rivian R1T, which recently underwent a cross-country off-road adventure, accompanied by engineers, a combustion engine support vehicle and very careful route mapping to find charge stations (4WD Volume 13 Issue 8).
The power and torque promised by BEVs are certainly adequate, as are most clearances. Their acceleration is astounding, yet inconsequential for most off-road adventures. Overland trips still need to be carefully planned to hit charging stations so the ‘I wonder where that road goes’ question is best left at home. Then there’s the cost. How do you feel about pinstriping your new $100,000 BEV in the bush?
For now, it seems that BEV’s are best left to drivers looking for short, urban, daily commutes or as a second vehicle to run errands (in mostly warmer climates). The ban in 2035 may be amended to exclude light- and heavy-duty trucks.
Hopefully this, in conjunction with other greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies, is enough to avoid a climate catastrophe. Until governments can build a vast BEV infrastructure, manufacturers provide an increase in range for towing in cold climates, BEV batteries can be warrantied longer, and fast charging truly becomes fast, the diesel pick-up will continue to be the workhorse that powers our jobs and off-road recreation.