This Company Wants To Turn Your Old Pickup Into A Diesel Extended-Range EV

"An EREV works the same as a regular electric car, but also has a combustion engine that acts as a generator. The basic layout is the same as in the upcoming Ram 1500 REV, but there's a big difference under the hood: a diesel-powered CAT engine. Extended-range electric vehicles are seemingly having a moment. After the demise of the quirky BMW i3 and ill-fated Fisker Karma, automakers are eyeing EREVs as an all-encompassing solution that theoretically offers the best"

"Now, though, there's a company that wants to offer the same layout to people who don't want to get rid of their old truckswith a twist. Canada's Edison Motors is working on a kit that will transform any combustion-powered pickup into an EREV. You might have heard of this company before, as it has been in the news with its diesel hybrid log haulers, and it's now taking a similar approach to transforming passenger trucks, with the promise of slashing fuel costs"

"Edison currently has two working prototypes, both of which have electric motors powering the front and rear axles directly, as opposed to other solutions that use an electric motor bolted to the truck's original transfer case. The Canadian startup argues its solution is better because it allows for instant torque, it doesn't strain U-joints because there are none, and it makes room for the battery to fit under the vehicle, leaving the truck bed completely untouched."

Edison Motors is developing a retrofit kit to convert combustion-powered pickup trucks into extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). EREVs operate like electric cars but include a combustion engine that functions as a generator to extend range. Several automakers plan EREV pickup models, but those new vehicles will likely be costly. Edison targets existing trucks with a retrofit promising up to 30 percent fuel cost reductions. Two prototypes use electric motors driving front and rear axles directly, avoid transfer-case-mounted motors, place the battery under the vehicle, maintain the truck bed, and aim to eliminate U-joint strain while delivering instant torque.

Read at insideevs.com