There has been a lot of talk recently about electric F-150 trucks with Ford teasing its electric F-150 prototype pulling train cars that weight 1.25 million pounds. We learned after the fact that pulling that much weight wasn’t as hard as it might seem at first glance. For those wanting an electric F-150 but not wanting to wait until Ford rolls the truck out, a company out of Montreal called Ecotuend will build you an electric Ford F-150 now.
Ecotuned has built about 15 electric trucks already, and they are at work around Montreal. The company is also said to be working on more electric F-150 conversions right now. Current customers using the converted pickups include the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Hydro Quebec utility company, and a grocery store chain called IGA.
Ecotuned has said that it has no intention of becoming a larger automaker, a high-volume conversion maker, or a builder of battery packs. The company says that it is focused on matchmaking by selecting off-the-shelf components from several sources and being sure those parts work together as a kit to convert the F-150 truck. Ecotuned spokesman Pierre Gladu says that what the company is doing is taking F-150 trucks that would otherwise go to a scrap yard or be shifted into secondary markets with polluting powertrains and recycling them with electric motors.
Gladu says that the company will also convert E-Series vans and can convert GM or Ram trucks as well. He points out that the company’s conversion works on anything that uses an H-frame. Once a donor vehicle is found, the company says a pair of mechanics spend a total of 32 labor hours to pull the old engine, transmission, fuel system, and exhaust and install the battery and EV components, and turn the fuel gage into a battery level meter. Battery options range from 43 kWh to 86 kWh depending on space in the donor. A 48 kWh unit can drive for 87 miles per charge. The cost of a turn-key kit is about $23,000 to $30,000, not counting the donor truck.
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Source: Green Car Reports
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