JerryRigEverything: How far can the CYBERTRUCK tow 11,000lbs in Freezing Weather?

[Gigahorse]

I went back and watched the Rivian towing run. I interpreted the two drives more favorable to the Cybertruck.

Zach drove the Rivian 69 miles with a 10,300 lb trailer load. The trailer weighed 9300 lbs for the first 9 miles until he added 1000 lbs of steel plate to the trailer. After driving 78 miles he reduced the weight of the trailer back to 9300 lbs before continuing on barely making it to a Camping Word where all the charging stations were being ICEd. At 78 miles he ESTIMATED that it would go another 30 miles based on the truck's range instrumentation which was acting very strangely throughout the drive. At the end of the video he backed off and claimed the Rivian would go 100 miles towing 10,000 lbs. Again, an estimate.

In my opinion, the Cybertruck did better than the Rivian. The Cybertruck started out the trip at 32 deg F, while for the Rivian it was 37 deg F. The CT display showed that Zach was often driving near 70 mph until nearing the end, not keeping it a 65 as he said he was for the Rivian. CT went a full 90 miles with a 10,400 lb trailer using 108 kWh from its 123 kWh battery. He made a big production of range anxiety, but in reality was in no danger of running out of charge. The CT could have traveled another 12 miles for a total distance of 102 miles to empty. The Cybertruck averaged 0.83 mi/kWh. Zach never gave an efficiency value for the Rivian for comparison purposes, but knowing that the Rivian has a 135 kWh battery vs 123 kWh for CT, the Cybertruck is clearly more efficient.

He also claimed the 0 to 60 time of 12 seconds was the same for both. That's true, but the Rivian was a quad motor while the CT was a dual motor. The CT Tri-motor would have out performed the Rivian.

It's pretty clear that Zach is biased in favor of the Rivian, he even said so at the end of the video. Liking one truck over another is fine, but making apples-to-oranges comparisons to show that your favorite is better is a bit dishonest.

I thought the Rivian also was given a little bit of an edge in the test, the only exception to that is when Zach slowed down with the CT in order to make sure he made it to the next charger. Hard to quantify if the 5 degrees, 5mph difference on the top end, or slowing to the 40s near the end had the greatest impact. I think they were fairly close and pretty good comparisons given the same towing load etc.

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[Cybergirl]

Lightning had street tires and warmer temps, so ofc it went further. He mentions that he was plugged in but not charging this morning which kinda sounds like not preconditioned to me. Why did you say it wasnt freezing when it's literally in the title. You like found the warmest pic you could which really leans me toward you trying to make the range look bad.

He literally did a 0-60 run, that probably sapped like 30 miles of range alone lol. It doesnt change the comparison between vehicles since they all did it but overall the range would be more.

As far as the third place thing goes. The lightning is basically not in the running because the test was so different.

The rivian beating us is less then ideal but honestly close enough that it couldve been driving condition differences such as snow in the road or anything. To be that close with a smaller battery, and bigger tires is pretty sweet imo. One of the CT's main reasons for getting the range it does is the aero. Towing pretty much negates that boon.

In the 70mph range test from out of spec the rivian beat the CT by about the same amount so it makes sense

The Rivian beat the CT in that 70 mph test because the Rivian has 9% more battery (135 vs 123 kWh). CT is more efficient even with a slightly worse Cd.

 

[Beyond]

Rivian didn't beat the Cybertruck. Zach's "test" was riddled with flaws.

Agree. Something else that isn't talked about much is that it seems the new 800v chargers will allow the Cybertruck to charge much faster with less strain on the battery. The dual 400v/800v architecture allows optimal charging with either existing or future charging stations.

 

[BannedByTMC]

Something else that isn't talked about much is that it seems the new 800v chargers will allow the Cybertruck to charge much faster with less strain on the battery.

If the limit is at the cell level charge acceptance rate, which it seems to be, the different voltage at the pack level will have no effect.

 

[Crissa]

Few people will push their luck by going to 0% when pulling into a Supercharger, more likely 10% and above, which means for most 15% of the charging time might be accelerated.

Well, then they won't get the best speeds. It's not like a Tesla stops at 0.

Bummer. I have been waiting for years. My cabin is 168 miles away. Looks like I am waiting until the next battery breakthrough.

168 miles from where? And why are you towing there? Or going 80mph? And why if it's your cabin can't you charge there?

-Crissa

 

[Cybergirl]

I thought the Rivian also was given a little bit of an edge in the test, the only exception to that is when Zach slowed down with the CT in order to make sure he made it to the next charger. Hard to quantify if the 5 degrees, 5mph difference on the top end, or slowing to the 40s near the end had the greatest impact. I think they were fairly close and pretty good comparisons given the same towing load etc.

I came away understanding that BOTH the R1T Quad and the CT AWD can tow 11,000 lbs for about 100 miles in near freezing temperatures.

 

[BannedByTMC]

Well, then they won't get the best speeds. It's not like a Tesla stops at 0.

True but if you're towing your mileage buffer is going to be smaller and I don't think too many people want to risk running out while hooked to a trailer. I think most people like to have some leeway in case of detours and other unforeseen conditions. I went as low as 6% in my 3 stuck in traffic on a highway in 100+ degree heat and it was not a relaxing experience that I wish to recreate.

 

[aadams1278]

I came away understanding that BOTH the R1T Quad and the CT AWD can tow 11,000 lbs for about 100 miles in near freezing temperatures.

I also take away that they can go some amount farther in non freezing temperatures, towing non-11,000 lbs, not as un-aerodynamic loads, and with All season tires.

 

[Cybergirl]

I thought the Rivian also was given a little bit of an edge in the test, the only exception to that is when Zach slowed down with the CT in order to make sure he made it to the next charger. Hard to quantify if the 5 degrees, 5mph difference on the top end, or slowing to the 40s near the end had the greatest impact. I think they were fairly close and pretty good comparisons given the same towing load etc.

I think the results are too close to call, and not enough of a difference to sway someone from buying one truck or the other based on towing range. Personally, if I planned to frequently tow any significant load over long distances, I'd stick with a diesel or gasoline truck.

 

[Crissa]

True but if you're towing your mileage buffer is going to be smaller and I don't think too many people want to risk running out while hooked to a trailer. I think most people like to have some leeway in case of detours and other unforeseen conditions. I went as low as 6% in my 3 stuck in traffic on a highway in 100+ degree heat and it was not a relaxing experience that I wish to recreate.

Gee, I try to aim to get home as close to 0 as possible. That way I'm not wasting time.

But a Tesla will know how much power you have left and your current consumption.

Stuck in traffic is great for an EV. Like, you could blast the AC on absolute max for... a couple hours from 6%.

-Crissa

 

[BannedByTMC]

Gee, I try to aim to get home as close to 0 as possible. That way I'm not wasting time.

Different risk tolerance I guess. I'd rather "waste" some time than risk wasting a lot more running out of charge somewhere. An unexpected detour could ruin your day.

 

[Crissa]

Different risk tolerance I guess. I'd rather "waste" some time than risk wasting a lot more running out of charge somewhere. An unexpected detour could ruin your day.

It takes a rather lot to run out of charge, tho.

-Crissa

 

[hridge2020]

Correction, the vault cover was opened briefly for demonstration purposes and then closed, should have a negligible impact on the test overall.

For road noise, could you tell if was from tires, not enough cabin sound deading or windows?

 

[BannedByTMC]

It takes a rather lot to run out of charge, tho.

-Crissa

Not if you're aiming to arrive around 0 SOC and run into a detour.

 

[Crissa]

Not if you're aiming to arrive around 0 SOC and run into a detour.

On the freeway? And you didn't know? Just go slower. For every two miles you drop from 80 to 55 you'll get a third for free. Or go 30 on your detour and get two miles for the price of one.

-Crissa

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