Cybergirl
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2020
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- Location
- Illinois and Arizona
- Vehicles
- Tesla Model Y LR, Model Y SR, Cybertruck AWD FS
I think the jury is still out on that. Cybertruck may have the greater range in a side-by-side range test. Let me explain why...Depending on the distance the Rivian may have the advantage as it has the lowest Cd and largest battery. The 70mph road tests show a 14%-34% advantage. As speed increases past 70mph the Rivian does better vs the others. T/SC will be available for all soon and unless the CT charging curve improves it has no advantage.
The lightning has very poor Cd so if you like 80mph it is not your best road trip truck.
Yes, the Rivian has a larger battery, but range depends on how much of the battery capacity is usable. Range also depends on vehicle drive train efficiency, not just aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance.
In a recent range test, Out of Spec Reviews measured CT's overall efficiency to be 484 Wh/mile at 70 mph.
In a similar range test, they measured the R1T's efficiency to be 429 Wh/mile at the same 70 mph. That would indicate that the Rivian is more efficient than the Cybertruck until you take into account the difference in ambient temperatures during the tests.
Cybertruck was driven in a temperature range from 46 to 39 deg F. The Rivian from 52F to 61F. That corresponds to about a 10% decrease in efficiency for the Cybertruck due to colder air temperature (denser air). The Rivian was also driven at a higher elevation (lesser air density). Tested at the same air temperature as the Rivian experienced, we could expect the efficiency of the CT to be 10% better (386 Wh/mile), even better since seat warming wouldn't be needed in the CT.
Both vehicles consumed 124 kWh of battery energy from 100% SoC to dead stop, so Rivian limits the discharge of the 135 kWh battery to effectively be the same size battery in the CT (123 kWh). I don't know why they did that.
Would the result be substantially different at 80 mph? I estimate about 1% better for the R1T. Not significantly better.
I'm very interested in Out of Spec Reviews repeating the range test with both vehicles on the same route at the same date and time. Only then will we have a definitive answer to which truck has the advantage in driving range.
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