In this week’s Ask Nathan:
- Will they build the next Ford Flex?
- Can you visit TELO Trucks?
- ChargePoint failures?
The first question comes from a fan who wants to know if we’ll ever see the next Ford Flex.
Q: (Via Twitter/X @NathanAdlen): RE: Looks like the next Ford Flex is a GO!
I know you try to debunk rumors and actually take the time to investigate them, so did you know about the next Ford Flex? One video says Jim Farley announced it but there’s no other data on it. Can you tell me if it’s true and if you can figure out what type of vehicle it will be?
– Flash and Ref\dial
A: That would be something; however…
Nothing has been officially released by Ford. I know that there are some websites and video channels that say Ford CEO Jim Farley made an announcement about the next Ford Flex, but it looks like wishful thinking. I checked on Ford’s media sites, and with a few Ford-fan websites I trust, and there’s nothing official there either.
Sorry to say this, but it looks like wishful thinking.
With that being said: there are a lot of Ford Flex fans out there. While I always felt it was more logical to get a Explorer (they shared a lot of components), the Flex was unique and quite capable. I found that especially true for a friend who bought a base model and it was low enough to fit in a low-ceiling garage, yet could hold a family of five.
It’s also the first EcoBoost car I drove, and one of the first cars that Roman and I reviewed together!
Where did the time go?
Anyway, it’s always possible that Ford will revive the name in the future. They’ve done it before.
We’ll see!
– N
The next question comes from a longtime fan who wants TFL Studios to spotlight TELO Trucks.
Q: (RE: Visiting TELO Trucks)
Now that the Nathan Bureau of TFL is on the ground in California, please consider doing a video on Telo. They plan to have a driveable prototype soon. I think it would be a great little series for TFL if you visited Telo twice a year and gave viewers a look at the struggles of an automotive startup.
My question is related to one you recently answered, where a viewer claims Americans hate small cars. I disagree, and I think the Telo truck is a great example of putting a bigger vehicle in a smaller footprint (like my Maverick). Am I the only American who misses all the desirable small vehicles we had in my youth?
Thanks for considering, and Go Steelers!
– Scott from Asheville
A: Hi there!
There are two EV pickup truck startups I’m looking forward to documenting, or (at least) seeing their products in person. Those startups are Alpha, and TELO. I have sent requests to both, and I will continue to remind them that you guys want to see their products as well.
TELO trucks is unique. It’s everything I wanted in an electric pickup – if they actually go into production. All of these new EV pickup trucks still follow old-school thinking about what you can do with an electric powertrain. Even the CyberTruck is chained to the notion that a pickup must be huge, and overweight.
TELO seems to have a much better grasp on design, as long as they can achieve their goals – it could be a game changer. I especially like its folding bulkhead, that holds up to eight-feet of cargo. IN addition, the thing is tiny; I mean super tiny.
Any vehicle that has the same length as a modern, two-door Mini Cooper is downright tiny!
The TELO Truck aims to hold 4×8 sheets in the folding cargo bed. They state a 0 to 60 mph of 4-seconds, with a total of 500 horsepower underneath. TELO states that it should have 350-miles range, hold four adults comfortably and cost about $50,000. That’s pretty bold ambitions. You can see their website here.
It’s a funny thing. While Alpha is aiming at EV pickups that look like they come from the 1980s, TELO trucks looks like its aiming for the future. Sure, I would feel better if I didn’t know the odds are against both companies. I mean, the failure rate for startups is very high. Still, both companies seem to be building running prototypes, and looking for reals production investment.
In time, I hope both succeeded. In the meantime, I hope we get to look at what they are up to right now!
UPDATE!
We (Andre and I) will be talking to TELO Trucks this upcoming week.
Stay tuned!
The last question comes from a reader who is having a hard time with ChargePoint.
Q: Nathan! Help! ChargePoint doesn’t work in LA!
I know you are in LA and you are already frustrated with the terrible choices for people who don’t drive Tesla (NACS). I moved here from Phoenix with my Chevy Bolt. Not the best car in the world but it has 80 thousand miles and no problems. I get here and my ChargePoint which worked fine in Arizona is all messed up here. I can’t get the app to work right and half the chargers are down all the time.
Are they going out of business? Something’s got to be wrong.
– Omer
A: Yes, I’ve seen this too. ChargePoint is having a rough year.
ChargePoint is in the process of reorganizing after a few brutal years. Right now, they are improving financially, but it looks like some of their infrastructure is crumbling.
“ChargePoint continued to execute against its strategy and deliver results in line with our stated goals. Our second quarter revenue was within our stated guidance range and gross margin improved sequentially for the third consecutive quarter. Today, we have implemented an action plan to create efficiencies while reducing operating expenses.
…Our focus on delivering new software and hardware solutions that make it easier to go electric remains unchanged.”
That quote recently came from Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. My connection to the ChargePoint media isn’t what it once was, so I have to find these quotes online, rather than speak to a representative.
As for the app – I totally agree. Out of everything they need to fix (helping their public image), they need to fix their app. It’s like they fogot the public needs to charge, and needs help finding those chargers. Especially – ones that work.
– N
