VIA Motors

I agree with this design. Mechanically isolated engines. Now, How about a diesel version.

$79,000 in volume.no thanks.get it down in the 20's or low 30's maybe.the average joe just ain't gonna be able to afford one.and he is the one that really needs it.

Only $79K for the Sub? Sign me up!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I am guessing they are aiming at the service industry market. Hopefully the prices drop.

Seems like a suboptimal design, since it's a regular GMC truck chassis hacked up to accept electric drive. Why exactly does it need a driveshaft instead of sticking the motor driving the rear wheels in back, bolted to an IRS pumpkin? Seems to come with a lot of the baggage that conventional trucks have -- I'd rather see a forward control truck like an Isuzu cabover be converted. Could be lighter and a more optimal design.

It could be more optimal yes.
The cab-over would prevent production of the "Suburban" variant - not an unpopular machine around here (is there such thing as a 7-passenger cabover ?
And yes, if they didnt use a GM ladder-frame, they could shave a lot of weight and get better economy, but now they have to spec, contract and manufacture 100% of the machine, which puts a big damper on their production capacity. Going their own way with new designs and parts also means that they need to hire a bunch of designers from existing companies or risk designing in a bunch of weak points because new designs are always fraught with weaknesses and gotcha's (ever heard about the reliability of the first year of a new model from Porsche ? and they have years of making cars under their belt...). Using your own design also makes it harder for end users to get parts.

The market will decide how these guys will do. I don't think that they have a bad idea and its step in the right direction.
-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I'm leery about anything presented or backed by Jay and Bob

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Yeah I saw the video on them the other day. That would be the perfect truck for me, I'd save about $5k a year in fuel.

I'd be interested in what they do sell for when GM does bring them to market. The Volt is down to about $30k, maybe a bit less. A regular extended cab like that is in the mid to low $30k range. If they can put the electric stuff on it for an extra $10k-$15k that's not bad. I think the current GMC Hybrid pickup is around $40k.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Its a great design nothing is hacked. Having a motor driving each wheel would be more expensive and complicated since its 4wd. Electric motors are heavy.

I suspect the timing of this is calculated because GM is in the process of redoing the Silverado line. I strongly suspect they are making accommodation's in the new truck to produce these more cheaply, and probably get rid of the existing GMC hybrid.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Looking at this picture it doesn't seem either one of them is all that happy about being in bed together...

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Yeah, you can buy a LOT of gas for $50,000, even at tomorrow's prices.

and i drive a tdi jetta so i save alot more.over my last 10 tank fulls i have been averaging 53 mpg.and it's paid for 5 times over.will these do that.i think not.all they might do is give you that warm fuzzy feeling that you are making a difference.when in reality you are just a sucker.

I didn't suggest wheel motors. I suggested a motor driving each differential, with independent suspension. I strongly doubt that a second motor would be heavier than a transfer case and two driveshafts.

I wouldn't want independent suspension on a truck, not durable enough.

Transfer cases are not that heavy and drive shafts are aluminum on 1/2 tons.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

didn't chevy trucks use a driveshaft made out of a graphite/carbon fiber material that had aluminum yolks on the ends?