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Scott3:
That all looks so ... exposed, especially the battery. I guess it's higher than the diff, at least, I used to own a 2WD ute with more ground clearance than that.
Mike
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MikeAqua:
That all looks so ... exposed, especially the battery. I guess it's higher than the diff, at least, I used to own a 2WD ute with more ground clearance than that.
Battery being exposed is pretty typically on EV's. For example:
Kona EV:
Tesla model 3:
Polestar2:
Obviously more areo treatment on the Model 3 & polestar than the kona & LDV ute, but they are all the same with regards to the metal bottom being exposed. I think the bottom functions as Armour, and it needs to be something decent to cause damage. (there was a high profile incident where a model S ran over the tow hitch (removable) of a pick up truck in the USA, which punctured the pack.
As you say, the diff appears to be is the lowest point. Based on 4x4 / pre-runner hilux, this will sit cira 210mm above the ground. Means the ute will have the same ground clearance as one from another brand running similar size tires more clearance than a ute like the hilux workmate (or the rwd navara I learnt to drive in). Obviously the presence of battery in the middle will cut into ramp over angle compared to modern 4x4 and high 2wd utes (i.e. pre-runner / Hi-rider).
Most venerable bit to me looks to be just to the right of the diff. There looks to be a path where debree of a certain height could pass cleanly under the batteery & axle, but snag on the motor housing which looks to be soft aluminum.
The cooling hoses & Power wires between the chassis & motor are going to see a lot of flexing on bumpy roads.
The rearmost box I think is the charger. Seems to mounted on a really solid bracket, and tucked quite out of the way, so I can't see that causing an issue.
Obraik:
The exposed back end will most likely have panelling on the production cars - I suspect they have it off for the press event.
Seems unlikley:
1: Diesel / petrol utes don't tend to have any paneling in the pictured area. Generally the likes of the spare tire, Diff, crankshaft, suspension components are all exposed.
2: It's a lower end ute. A segment where costs are cut where possible
3: how would paneling even work? The most exposed but is the Motor, but that is bouncing around on the live axle. Don't really want to mount anything more on it (adds even more unstrung weight), and if mounted on the body, it would need to accommodate full supervention travel downwards, which seriously cut into ground clearance with suspension compressed.
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Obraik:
I'd just like to point out that's a Model S, not a 3 🤓
For some reason I remember seeing utes with protection panels underneath the motor and transmission. In the case of a RWD EV, this would be in the rear instead.
Regarding Ute bash plates, yes they do typically come from the factory with some up front. I imagine the T-60 electric will be the same (protect the inverter and whatever auxiliaries are up front. Generally they are pretty flimsy, hence there is an active aftermarket, for better bash plates for various models of 4x4.
Here is a diesel T60.
Metal under the sump pan, plastic everywhere else. No guarding under the likes of the exhaust. Flimsy shield under the fuel tank.
And the rear of the diesel T-60. Same basic configuration as most Thai built utes:
And for comparison the underside of a 4x4 hilux:
https://youtu.be/GsDlcA36ulk
Note the transfer case (Silver bit near the timestamp of the above video), isn't covered by the main bashplates, and just has a tiny guard on it, and bolted to the case itself. LDV could do something similar with the rear motor without too much effort.
But a tiny motor mounted guard is about the limit. The decision to mount motor on the live axle means major bash plates aren't viable. As an example, here is a heavenly modified 70 series land-cruiser with a live front axle. Aftermarket Bash plates upfront, but no bashplates around the live axle.
One thing LDV could do is rotate the rear to raise the motor. (Limited by the clearance to the bed floor at max suspension compression). Rotating the diff would improve ground clearance anyway. (some military trucks have this setup for more ground clreance), plus it would move the motor away from the ground..
Much of this stuff is kinda Moot. This is a RWD ute, so isn't going to appeal to people doing tough off roading anyway. And it looks to have more ground clearance than most cars, so will be fine for on road duty.
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