Tesla Trailer Battery may be coming (new patent filed)

[bentoncalder]

It has always made more sense to me having a range extender battery in a connected trailer, because there is more room in a trailer than in the vault to begin with, but there's even more benefits, including it not being hauled around all the time when not needed.

Designing a trailer with a battery from the ground up means the battery can be below the trailer decking providing the same low center of gravity that benefits handling in Tesla cars. Additionally, if battery weight is already distributed below decking from front to back of the trailer, then the loaded items on the trailer decking will have less effect on forward or rear weight distribution than they normally would.

Of course overall the trailer would be heavier, so I think Tesla would have to optimize battery size versus weight in a trailer just like they do in vehicles.

But I would actually be even more interested if Tesla would also include a drive unit motor in a trailer with the battery, like Pebble Flow and Lightship are doing with their EV RVs.

- ÆCIII

I agree, battery in trailer makes a lot of sense. I would however like to have the option of trailer vs in-bed because I would want extended range without a trailer for a long day of delivering humans in and out of the truck. I would definitely appreciate not having to plan around 2-3 charging stops I need throughout the day. Hopefully, as this patent illustrates, they are still working on delivering both types of solutions.

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[TyPope]

If it were a "portable" solution, would it need its own cooling system? Or maybe it would discharge slow enough that it wouldn't need it?

 

[mongo]

If it were a "portable" solution, would it need its own cooling system? Or maybe it would discharge slow enough that it wouldn't need it?

I can burn through the truck pack in under two hours, so a 0.5C discharge rate is sufficient. However, for charging, need at least 1C. Cold weather performance is also a concern.

The patent calls out an independent thermal system with heat exchanger to the truck (versus its own radiator).

 

[JerseyMike]

I can’t imagine any demand for this, the loss off efficiency from wind drag and weight would likely offset the range

 

[cyberhero32]

I can’t imagine any demand for this, the loss off efficiency from wind drag and weight would likely offset the range

not to mention the ones more likely needing the xtra battery are pulling something already

 

[mongo]

I can’t imagine any demand for this, the loss off efficiency from wind drag and weight would likely offset the range

It is still a gain, but makes more sense if one needed the trailer anyway. Unless it's a big pack.

I had a 120Wh/mile hit towing a PT Cruiser on a dual axle U-Haul trailer, 450 to 570.

 

[yohst]

Reading the patent application, the claims are not limited to wheeled/towable configurations. The independent claims state “managing a plurality of battery packs via OCV matching, parallel charging, SOE/OCV strategy switching” etc. None of that logic references physical form factor, mechanical connection type, or mobility of the auxiliary pack. The truck-bed and trailer embodiments (Figs. 8 and 9) are explicitly described as examples of physical implementations….

The application is more like a dual-pack EV system using a anticipatory charging management approach (anticipating when to charge and prepare for that).

That interesting. So while we are al talking about trailing application of this, Tesla may use it for something else too. Think military applications, bringing in extra pwr source that matches to whatever its hooked up to, emergency/first responders (fema operations for the fires in LA last year were huge, getting gas and diesel in can be a hassle, generators are everywhere). Anyway, my gutt tells me more industrial application for this they have in mind.

just armchairing…

 

[sys700]

Looks very aerodynamic.

 

[cyberjeff25]

Tesla should release a Tesla trailer with an auxiliary battery pack to restore the normal range of the towing vehicle. Than this trailer could be attached to any Tesla vehicle thereby restoring the lost range due to the extra weight from a trailer and power on up grades. A small trailer like those offered by Airstream would look fantastic. Tesla could partner with Airstream and make the Tesla auxiliary battery an option on any of their trsiler models. This would eliminate the obligation to provide servicing to the features of a trsiler - toilet, kitchen etc. - maybe provide for channeling the heat pump from the tow vehicle into the travel trailer! Tesla could just buy Airstream with its pocket change!

 

[cyberjeff25]

Musk likely got the idea for the stainless steel cybertruck exterior from the line of Airstream travel trailers.

 

[ireallyboughtoneofthese]

It has always made more sense to me having a range extender battery in a connected trailer, because there is more room in a trailer than in the vault to begin with, but there's even more benefits, including it not being hauled around all the time when not needed.

Designing a trailer with a battery from the ground up means the battery can be below the trailer decking providing the same low center of gravity that benefits handling in Tesla cars. Additionally, if battery weight is already distributed below decking from front to back of the trailer, then the loaded items on the trailer decking will have less effect on forward or rear weight distribution than they normally would.

Of course overall the trailer would be heavier, so I think Tesla would have to optimize battery size versus weight in a trailer just like they do in vehicles.

But I would actually be even more interested if Tesla would also include a drive unit motor in a trailer with the battery, like Pebble Flow and Lightship are doing with their E-RV offerings.

- ÆCIII

Bingo

 

[mtnbikr]

Using a competitive ICE vehicle to gauge inflation of motor vehicles:

2019 F-150 Lariat brand new started at $35,505.
2025 F-150 Lariat brand new started at $52,841.

That's a price increase of +49%

2019 Cybertruck Estimated price was $69,000.
2025 Cybertruck with a +49% increase would be $102,810.
2026 Cybertruck on Tesla's site today is $99,990.

Looks like you get your wish as Tesla is saving you $2,820 over their original estimate + inflation. Congratulations.

Hey, Coke used to be $.05 per bottle (but you had to return the bottle)!
wHy Is CoKe So ExPeNsIvE nOw?

[/QUOT

Using a competitive ICE vehicle to gauge inflation of motor vehicles:

2019 F-150 Lariat brand new started at $35,505.
2025 F-150 Lariat brand new started at $52,841.

That's a price increase of +49%

2019 Cybertruck Estimated price was $69,000.
2025 Cybertruck with a +49% increase would be $102,810.
2026 Cybertruck on Tesla's site today is $99,990.

Looks like you get your wish as Tesla is saving you $2,820 over their original estimate + inflation. Congratulations.

Hey, Coke used to be $.05 per bottle (but you had to return the bottle)!
wHy Is CoKe So ExPeNsIvE nOw?

you also need to factor in Tesla only came out with 70% of the promised range at that price... Not meeting the 500 mile range as promised for me is the bigger lie to swallow....

 

[HLitt]

Ideally, Tesla offers the battery package and interface, allowing you to install the battery set-up on any trailer that can have it installed safely.

I saw this interesting set up at the Inyokern SC last week. It appears it had either self propulsion or augmented the CT.

 

[HLitt]

 

[Limes2]

Tesla patents a lot of stuff. Doesn't mean they'll make it into a product or feature.

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