Tesla Pickup Truck ???

Tesla’s announcement that it’s working on an electric pickup truck has the automotive world buzzing about what such a vehicle might look like. After all, Tesla changed the world of electric cars with the Model S. What might it be able to do for the electric truck? Our colleagues at Truck Trend took a stab at envisioning what the Tesla pickup might look like and imagining what innovations it might bring to the truck segment.

Truck Trend speculates that the pickup will be called Model U for “utility.” With the recent announcement of a Model Y small crossover, that would fit in with Tesla’s nomenclature, spelling “U S3XY.” The renderings show the Tesla face on what appears to be a traditional midsize pickup body, but there’s more than meets the eye with this fantasy EV truck. One of the highlights will be the front trunk or “frunk.” Here, you’ll find generous storage space just like the Model S, but also multiple USB, 12V, and 120V outlets for power. Additionally, there will be a space to store wet/dirty items with a drain plug for easy cleaning and drainage. Drop-in accessories could include charging docks for cordless tools and organization trays.

Because the Model U doesn’t need a driveshaft, relying instead on in-wheel motors, the bed will be much deeper than those of other trucks available today. It will also have plenty of power outlets and an optional in-bed air compressor for connecting air tools, blowing off dust, and airing up tires. In the top of the bed floor would be an auxiliary battery pack good for an extra 100 miles when towing. It could be charged at home via Tesla’s Powerwall or through the Model U’s solar-panel-covered roof and optional solar tonneau top. The battery would slide in and lock into a bed floor rail system.

Truck Trend estimates the Model U would offer power and torque on par with the heavy-duty diesels available today, which can produce as much as 900 lb-ft. Towing capacity would be 10,000 pounds, and acceleration from 0-60 mph would take 5 seconds. As for range, our sister publication expects the Tesla truck to come with a base 120-kW-hr battery pack, with a 160 kW-hr unit serving as the top option. Pricing will start at $60,000 and go all the way up to $150,000 for the top-trim model.