- Canadian startup Edison Motors is working on a kit that turns any old pickup truck into an 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 of both worlds: the smoothness, instant torque and fast-charging abilities of an EV without the range anxiety associated with it, courtesy of a combustion engine that acts as a generator.
The Ram 1500 REV, Jeep Grand Wagoneer EREV and Scout’s Terra and Traveler models are all set to be powered by different iterations of extended-range powertrains. However, these are brand-new vehicles that will likely be anything but affordable. 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 trucks–with 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 by up to 30%.
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.
That said, one of the prototypes–a Toyota Land Cruiser–has a bunch of equipment in the bed, but that’s because it has oversized parts borrowed from the big log trucks. The other prototype, a 1995 Dodge Ram, has all the components tucked under the skin. The Ram also has a surprise under the hood: a Cummins diesel engine that drives a generator.
Once the kit is ready to go, the Cummins will be swapped for a CAT motor, but the fuel powering it will still be diesel. That’s different from all the upcoming new EREVs from Stellantis and Scout Motors, which will use gas engines.
Specs-wise, Edison’s conversion kit will be available with either one electric motor that makes 350 horsepower or two electric motors for a total of 500 horsepower and 8,800 pound-feet of torque. A lithium iron phosphate battery with a rated voltage of 600 volts and a capacity between 60 and 90 kilowatt-hours will power the motors. DC fast charging will be part of the package, although the company didn’t say how much power the battery will be able to take in.
The two prototypes are currently undergoing real-world testing, and Edison Motors is thinking of offering two versions of its retrofit kit–one for people who want to do the work themselves and one ready-made, incomplete chassis that can accommodate any body over it.
Pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, but the Canadian startup claims the kit will “ideally retail for a third to half the cost of a new pickup,” depending on options. That’s not bad, but potential customers also need to consider the labor costs associated with the conversion. They also need to remember to plug in–otherwise, they’ll carry around a heavy battery for no reason.
Edison is taking $250 reservations, with deliveries expected to begin sometime next year.
