Off-roaders are the risk-takers of the automotive world, with strong loyalty to their brands and an affinity for nature — so they just might be the ideal fit to adopt new electric vehicles.
"They're quieter, which would be great for out in the woods," said Pamela East of Charlestown Township, head of the Michigan Wheelers club. "Electric vehicles are great ecology-wise, and it sounds like they would be viable offroad vehicles, too."
That's why some automakers are placing their bets on the hot off-road segment as they seek to build demand for alternatives to internal-combustion engines. From the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler to the all-electric GMC Hummer pickup, several electrified off-road vehicles are entering the market in the coming months that could present exciting capabilities for four-wheel enthusiasts.
Some aficionados, however, have reservations about their practicality: "The concern is about going five days in Colorado on an elk hunt and having to worry about a charge," said Sean Smith, an off-road fan from Gretna, Nebraska.
With a gas or diesel engine, "I feel like there's access when we have to run into town, gas up the truck and can turn around and head right back. I don't want to have to run in for four hours or overnight to charge."
Still, Smith, who recently purchased a Wrangler Unlimited with an e-torque mild hybrid system, recognizes "the performance and the torque of electric vehicles can't be argued with."
While internal combustion engines require speed to produce maximum torque, electric motors can do so starting from zero revolutions per minute. That capability is valuable for activities that often involve traveling at low speeds, navigating through mud and crawling over rocks, noted Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst for Guidehouse Insights.
It's that type of message companies like General Motors Co. want to send. Take the return of its Hummer as a battery-electric vehicle, which is expected to make its debut this fall: "It's bold, capable and precisely crafted," said Phil Brook, vice president of GMC marketing, in a statement.
"As EVs gain popularity, it's important to offer people choices in terms of size, capability and performance, and the truck space is the next frontier. We can promise that the GMC Hummer EV will not only be premium but a highly capable off-road vehicle — naturally the EV platform has some inherent performance advantages."
Likewise, Ford Motor Co.'s all-electric F-150, expected to debut in the next two years, "will live up to the Built Ford Tough promise in all areas of performance," the company said in a statement. A hybrid version is available for the 2021 model year.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV declined to comment on its forthcoming plug-in hybrid Wrangler. The vehicle made an appearance in January at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, but more details are expected soon with the SUV hitting dealerships before the end of the year.
The emphasis on electric vehicles' capability marks a shift in thinking for the industry. It follows the popularity of Tesla Inc.'s premium line after initial battery-electric adoption in vehicles produced for the general masses didn't take off.
"They've been learning what kind of electrified vehicles consumers actually want to buy," Abuelsamid said. "Rather than it's an electrified Wrangler getting the equivalent of 50 miles per gallon when it's 30-35 on average, it adds extra performance to it. That way the customers are seeing a different kind of benefit. They're more willing to pay a premium to get better performance than efficiency."
Consumers of more popular and higher-margin vehicles also are more likely to buy an electrified vehicle, he said. They typically can afford the increased cost that comes from the lithium-ion batteries in them. That fits the same growing demographics of overlanding fans, too.
Their big pickups and SUVs often have the most room for improvement when it comes to fuel economy standards for the automakers' fleets. Since 2015, the overall industry has fallen behind the U.S. standards. Appealing to specific buyers such as off-roaders could help grow the roughly 4% of U.S. electric-vehicle buyers, said Rebecca Lindland, founder of rebeccadrives.com, an auto industry and reviews website: "They've tried to overlay those very, very niche markets so that they can sell some vehicles."
But electric vehicles may come with some unique challenges, as Smith of Nebraska expressed.
"An off-road vehicle is for adventuring off the beaten path, and an electric vehicle has to be plugged in; the two are naturally contradictory," said Karl Brauer, an analyst and former publisher for Kelley Blue Book.
"If you're climbing steep hills, you're going to burn that source of energy more rapidly whether it is gas or electric. Gasoline you can carry with you. If you need hours to get recharged, and there's not even a charging station outside the park, it seems it can lead to some natural challenges."
Some parks are keeping an eye on the electric trend: "I have not heard or seen any of the electric vehicles yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time," said Jody Johnston, park manager for Michigan's Silver Lake State Park, which has an off-road vehicle area in Mears. The park does not have a charging station. There's one nine miles away in Hart.
ChargePoint Inc., which sells charging infrastructure, has seen growing interest from campgrounds and national parks, said Bill Loewenthal, senior vice president of product. It along with other companies are investing in highway corridor projects, including DC fast-charging stations, to expand electric transit. ChargePoint also has experimented with solar power stations for emergency response vehicles in New York City.
"It's not a fill-up model like your traditional ICE," Loewenthal said. "You're not driving the car to empty. You're topping it off wherever you can park that has charging available when you stop for groceries or grab dinner."
Some companies have found a market for electric off-roaders. Twisted is a United Kingdom-based Land Rover off-road Defender vehicle modification company. Last month, it announced a limited run of 30 North American Specification Defender 90s from the '90s that it is updating with modern technologies and a battery-electric motor with a 200-mile charge. Half of the "beach buggies" that start at $185,000 have been reserved so far.
Land Rover today offers the Defender P400 with a mild hybrid system. But some custom Land Rovers face trouble with carbon emission regulations, especially in California, Twisted CEO Tom Maxwell said.
"It's a golden egg, as it were," he said. "I think people are impressed with the capability. It's not an electric go-kart with a Defender body. It looks and drives like a Defender, but it happens to be environmentally friendly."
Shifting the perspective of off-highway vehicles away from the traditional gas-guzzling image may even be able to grow the market by as much as 25%, said Michael Erickson, head of powersports at Phoenix-based Nikola Corp. The hydrogen and electric semi-truck maker will partner with an undisclosed automaker to produce its Badger electric pickup and expects to bring its electric NZT off-road utility task vehicle to market in 2022.
Nikola founder Trevor Milton, an off-road enthusiast himself, began pursuing the market after a belt broke on a side-by-side with an internal combustion engine he was driving. A prototype received enthusiasm at the California Sand Sports Super Show, Erickson said.
"What builds up that value proposition for pioneering off-road electric vehicles?" he said. "How do we bring that to life in the marketplace? It's equal to or better performance."
bnoble@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @BreanaCNoble
"electric" - Google News
August 24, 2020 at 11:05AM
https://ift.tt/3aTxc6c
Electric vehicles present capability, challenges for off-roaders - The Detroit News
"electric" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2yk35WT
https://ift.tt/2YsSbsy
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Electric vehicles present capability, challenges for off-roaders - The Detroit News"
Post a Comment