Elon Musk reveals new Tesla ute details

TESLA boss Elon Musk has revealed details of the upcoming electric ute that is set to revolutionise job sites.

TESLA boss Musk has revealed via Twitter that the coming ute will have several significant features, including power outlets that are able to power 240V tools all day without the need for an external power source such as a generator.

The electric pick-up truck will also feature an all-wheel drive, dual-motor powertrain. While no performance figures have been revealed Musk stated that the pick-up’s dual motors would make “crazy torque”.

The high torque figure would align the ute with the larger American-style utes that have arrived in Australia in the last year, like the Ram 2500 and the soon to launch Chevrolet Silverado imported by HSV, that offer extreme towing capacity.

Tesla: Pick-up truck plans

However, Tesla’s extensive use of heavy batteries would mean that the vehicle’s load capacity would be low to keep it available to regular licence holders and not restricted to heavy vehicle licence.

The Tesla will feature automatic dampers to adjust the suspension depending on the load.

Pickup truck will have power outlets allowing use of heavy duty 240V, high power tools in field all day. No generator needed.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 26 June 2018

Musk also revealed that the ute plans to have a range of 650km-800km, which is similar to the dual motor Model S. The range is dependent on average speed with the Tesla ranking in the lower range at highway speeds.

The Tesla pick-up will have a focus on technology with the ute able to parallel park by itself.

Tesla has previously hinted that the pick-up will arrive in 2019 — but Tesla has often been overly optimistic with its promises.

Local rival: Ram 2500

The electric car maker has constantly missed production targets for its more affordable Model 3 sedan, which has yet to get close to its goal of 5000 examples a month by the end of June. According to Bloomberg, just under 10,000 Model 3s rolled off the production line in the first quarter. This failure led Musk to state that the company was in “production hell”.

In response to the missed targets Tesla has built a makeshift third production line in a tent at the car maker’s Freemont, California, factory.

The hastily built line is an attempt to ramp up production volume for the Model 3 after Tesla over-automated its other production lines leading to many costly delays.