Ford demonstrates a prototype, all-electric F-150 by towing 1.2 million pounds of train cars:
Forget all the usual arguments about mileage, price, and charging time. Can we talk about how this tow strap has the tensile strength to withstand this pull?
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July 23, 2019, 06:22 PM
a1abdj
I can swing vault doors weighing up to 100,000 pounds by hand. Sounds impressive unless you understand the physics. No different here.
Who were those dudes? Just a bunch of guys that are supposed to look like the demographic of F150 buyers? I'm sure there was some smoke and mirrors involved in the stunt, not to mention that the tensile stress applied to the strap is nowhere near the static weight of the load. Let's see what happens if they take the wheels off those train cars.
July 23, 2019, 06:27 PM
Texas Bob C.
Let's see it stop them.
July 23, 2019, 06:30 PM
trapper189
Let's strap it to my F350 and see what happens.
July 23, 2019, 06:31 PM
Gear.Up
I look forward to EVs being viable but... This a stupid marketing gimmick for people who don't know better.
Not to mention that towing is going to absolutely destroy your "range" and lifespan of the battery pack.
July 23, 2019, 06:46 PM
badcopnodonut!!
Try pulling it uphill instead of down. Stupid advert.
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July 23, 2019, 06:47 PM
Balzé Halzé
quote:
Originally posted by a1abdj: I can swing vault doors weighing up to 100,000 pounds by hand. Sounds impressive unless you understand the physics. No different here.
Exactly. A cute gimmick.
On The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson was able to pull a 13,000 ton ship (26 million pounds?) with a Citroen C3. So big whoop, Ford.
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July 23, 2019, 06:51 PM
Eponym
Mahk would go wild with this one (if he busted Ford commercials).
July 23, 2019, 07:10 PM
lunchbox
It’s a marketing gimmick for sure but a viable all electric F-150 would be awesome. The company I work for has a prototype all electric semi truck that works really well and a hybrid electric/fuel cell prototype that’s even better. Currently a 15 liter Diesel engine makes about 2050 pound feet of torque, electric semi trucks make so much more torque it’s laughable.
July 23, 2019, 07:43 PM
mark60
Didn't Jack LaLanne do that with his teeth?
July 23, 2019, 08:20 PM
arfmel
Wearing ballet slippersp
July 23, 2019, 09:18 PM
Bisleyblackhawk
I’ve watched a strong wind blow unchocked/unbraked box cars 20-30 feet on a level track...if the track is level it doesn’t take as much effort as you might think to move box cars.
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July 23, 2019, 10:18 PM
Scuba Steve Sig
I bet the cars' couplers were compressed, so the F-150 is moving from stop one car at a time. Once its moving, its no big deal. Its my understanding that's why trains have engines on both ends, so the front engine doesn't have to back up to compress the cars to start moving again, the back engine compresses the cars first or something like that.
July 24, 2019, 12:45 AM
bronicabill
The day when all-electric vehicles can be recharged as fast (or close to it) as I can refill my car's tank with liquid dinosaurs, THEN and only then will I ever consider buying one!!!
____________________________ Bill R. North Alabama
_____________________________ I just can't quit grinnin' from all of this winnin'!
July 24, 2019, 02:04 AM
Hobbs
The worst part is Ford engineers thought this was impressive.
July 24, 2019, 02:09 AM
Elk Hunter
quote:
Originally posted by a1abdj: I can swing vault doors weighing up to 100,000 pounds by hand. Sounds impressive unless you understand the physics. No different here.
Yup!
Publicity stunt.
Elk
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FBHO!!!
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July 24, 2019, 05:30 AM
gearhounds
Another auto maker should do the same thing with a small economy car to show just how insignificant this really is. Imagine Fords embarrassment.
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July 24, 2019, 06:20 AM
trapper189
Well the space shuttle isn't available anymore.
July 24, 2019, 06:31 AM
armedprof
The purpose of wheels is to allow very heavy things to be moved without much effort. The effort increases exponentially when gravity is a factor. Towing a load over flat ground is easy no matter the weight. Towing a heavy load up hill is a whole different story.