Towing Capacity and Range?

ςyb3®tЯμ¢kℓ|gh†n!ng

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Hello, has anybody done the math on the potential range for each of the models?

I ask this because I saw a couple of videos on other electric vehicles towing things and the results are a bit disappointing.
Rivian which is now producing vehicles in production was getting around 1 mile per % of battery charge when towing near its capacity limits.


The same people did this using a Model X utilizing a different trailer but near the Model X's capacity limits and the results were similar, about 1 mile per % of battery.


In general, it appears that you get about 1/3rd of the normal range when towing things.
I'm hoping the cybertruck can tow things further than 100 miles, otherwise, most of the time will be spent at supercharger stations when towing regularly.
Maybe the range numbers will be closer to the new Model Y towing things as a result of the new batteries.
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CyberMoose

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I didn't watch the video but you are saying towing near capacity limit. We are also talking about the rivian which hasn't released their longer range version (as far as I know) and the model x which while it can tow, it isn't really seen as a work vehicle.

So I suppose that the results of the Cybertruck will probably be similar at the lowest trim level. But at higher trim levels having larger range, more motors, and a higher tow rating; I suspect it will be much more optimal.

The biggest question will definitely come down to how much are you towing and how far are you going. I don't know what some people might frequently tow, but I don't really know anyone with trucks that tow near their capacity limits for long distance very often.

I would want to see how much the range is affected at more common towing weights.

If I did want to tow near the tow limit, since I wouldn't do it often, I wouldn't really mind charging more often. The biggest problem to address is whether or not i'll have the range to hit charging stations along the way. Also if I can't hit only supercharging stations, I'd have to see if other level 3 charging stations are on my route.
 

JBee

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The biggest issue is that Tesla doesn't offer a custom aero optimised trailer. I expect a range of aero trailers to come out seeing other EV trucks are also on the road.

But unless the trailers have batteries, expect at least half the range if its not aerodynamic. As for drive through chargers, that will be a must, hopefully they start doing that earlier rather than later. Just do all chargers with double parking spots and double cables. Can use it for two cars or a EV and trailer.
 

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The Rivian uses larger sized Eveready batteries !!!!!

The 4680 is yet to be tested in the wild. But it will come with more Watts per Kg, and discharge rate will be vastly improved.

I might have 1% right, which is a record.

Nevertheless, the 4680 is a different beast. I'm hoping for more than 60% towing capacity when towing 8000lb (3500k) RV.

My logic is based on needing to use HALF of the 14000 towing capacity.

If it's rated 500 miles, I will get at least 300.. This is my expectation

In addition, we need to consider loaded Semi's.. I doubt their viability if they get less than half the rated distance.



I think we may get a surprise.
 


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Hello, has anybody done the math on the potential range for each of the models?
There are too many variables to do any calculations. We don’t know what the pack sizes are, what the efficiency of the base truck is. Also, impact will vary greatly based on what you are towing.

A truck on a trailer is about as nasty a load as you can tow. Aero impact is huge.

A guy switched from a box camper trailer to an airstream and it massively improved his range.

https://insideevs.com/news/448466/video-tesla-model-x-towing-airstream-bambi/

If you want to tow big things long distances, the 500 mile range Cybertruck is almost required.
 

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A Tesla can currently charge to 80% in as little as 15 minutes. The expectation is that the 4680 pack will have superior thermal characteristics, allowing for even faster times.

If charging only takes a few minutes, then does the range even matter?
 

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Yeah, it's about as nasty as trying to guestimate how many miles you have left through the mountains. You need to know the weather, the route, the elevation changes, the speeds...

Your trailer not only has weight, it has its own aerodynamic load. Big cross sections and flat faces will be terrible. I've said it before, but maybe shells designed to reduce that loading will become available.

If charging only takes a few minutes, then does the range even matter?
It means the amount of stuff you can do in those hops. The distance off the beaten path. Also, the more energy spent the more time spent charging - and with a smaller, less absorbent pack, the time spent at a lower charge rate.

-Crissa
 
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Ogre

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A Tesla can currently charge to 80% in as little as 15 minutes. The expectation is that the 4680 pack will have superior thermal characteristics, allowing for even faster times.

If charging only takes a few minutes, then does the range even matter?
Each stop adds ~25 minutes by the time you get to the station charge and leave. If you have 100 miles range and it takes 25 minutes to recharge you are spending about a quarter of your drive charging

I think that would suck.
 

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I meant we haven't tested in the wild.. In house test results are not released.

I need reasonable range, AU is a large country, and it looks like they will install a station every 150K along the national route, this will be great between cities, but limitations apply going elsewhere.

My issue is going off the main highway, and then staying 'off grid' for a few days, perhaps some touring… And then hitching up and having enough juice to get to the next station.

With 300 mile towing range, It is restrictive, a few compromises, but doable.

I guess the price we pay for being early birds… It will get easier.
 


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in the mid 20th century Volkswagen added a gear reduction at the wheel hub for the van. VW did this because they were still using a small air cooled 4 cylinder... gutless engine against the higher weight of the van. I wonder if the electric truck manufacturers would consider a similar concept of mechanical advantage to overcome the high energy cost of towing. Electronically switch to a gear reduction torque amplification to ease the drain on the batteries. It would reduce the acceleration. But blasting off the line while towing is a fool's affair. Then when the cruising speed was met, the gear reduction could be switched off.
I may still be stuck in the old thinking of a back yard mechanic.
 

Throwcomputer

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in the mid 20th century Volkswagen added a gear reduction at the wheel hub for the van. VW did this because they were still using a small air cooled 4 cylinder... gutless engine against the higher weight of the van. I wonder if the electric truck manufacturers would consider a similar concept of mechanical advantage to overcome the high energy cost of towing. Electronically switch to a gear reduction torque amplification to ease the drain on the batteries. It would reduce the acceleration. But blasting off the line while towing is a fool's affair. Then when the cruising speed was met, the gear reduction could be switched off.
I may still be stuck in the old thinking of a back yard mechanic.
And I could very well be wrong, but thinking that might be a case of the impossible perpetual motion machine theory.

If the weight of the object and shape of object being moved (CT+trailer+load+resistance) stays the same, changing gears only changes the power output profile to consist of more torque and less rpm, but it still takes the same amount of power to move that object the same distance. All you've done is shift how the energy gets consumed.
 

JBee

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Early adoption of EV's is one thing, but the biggest limitation in our cross country driving will be all the EV's wanting to charge at the same times, like lunch or dinner, or overnight when theres no solar and typically less wind as well (unless there's a storm front).

Stopping for 15-25min every 1.5 hours will be quite a pain for sure. Just as an example, getting from my place to our nearest metropolitan city Perth would take an 45-115 minutes. At this time two of those stops wouldn't be at superchargers, one would be at 50kW and the other at 22kW.

Not only would the trailer require a slower speed to reduce aero consumption for something reasonable, but I would then still need to add 3 stops. Thats a good 7 hours trip one way. In comparison my current van does that same trip on 5/6 of a tank but takes 4.5 hours, with 1.5 tons in the back so I don't need a trailer. In this case I'd prefer a Cybervan option where the consumption is optimised.

All up a trailer is really a poorly executed vehicle extension. Something more integrated can really improve performance without loosing utility.
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