Towing tested with 6,000lb Tesla and trailer load

[cvalue13]

It’s amazing the mental gymnastics of people that consider 100miles long haul towing

who here said 100 miles is long haul towing?

point it out pls

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[Woodrick]

50cents!?! where are you located?

He's in California. That's pretty common out there.

 

[Ehninger1212]

HAHAHA omfg

 

[canyoncarver]

Not sure I understand your comment. On an energy consumed basis, a gallon of gasoline has 33 kwh of energy so driving at 1.1 mile per kwh while towing (as in this video) means that the EV is getting 36 miles per gallon on an energy-equivalent basis. The F150 got 9 mpg. The EV is four times more efficient (no surprise).

On an economic basis, if you are at national average residential electricity prices (0.14 per kwh) the cost is 13 cents per mile in the EV and at national average gasoline prices ($3.07/gal) the cost is 34 cents. At commercial electricity rates the cost is 9 cents. At the extortionate EA prices, the cost is the same per mile.

I find the "mpg" comparisons largely meaningless but those are the data as I see them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_gallon_equivalent

This is missing the point entirely.

Trucks have large fuel tanks of over 20 gallons precisely so that when they switch to use cases like towing or traveling long distances in rural areas the range of the vehicle is not an issue.

Additionally they can pull through re-fuel in about 5 minutes at almost any fueling station and they can also carry spare gas in gerry cans so that they don't even have to worry about pulling into a fueling station.

Compared to, minimum, one hour to disconnect a load from the CT, pull into a super charger stall, spend 45 minutes recharging the battery, all to get another 100 or so miles of towing range.

The CT is just not cut out for most towing scenarios but people in this thread just aren't willing to take the L.

Tesla will still sell as many CTs as they can build for at least the next few years because the towing use case is maybe 10% of American pickup truck owners.

 

[Sousray]

I am very concenred.

Actually towing an RV is my use-case for pulling the trigger on CT FS.

But my RV is 2,500 lbs. So if I can get 150 miles, my typical mileage in between campsites wirh one stop, I am good.

I guess the only way to go with a camper is to get the ones they are now starting to launch with the battery packs and powered axles. This way no impact on the CT performance. and you get a way to charge up your CT when it gets low.

 

[BayouCityBob]

This is missing the point entirely.

Trucks have large fuel tanks of over 20 gallons precisely so that when they switch to use cases like towing or traveling long distances in rural areas the range of the vehicle is not an issue.

...

I was responding to the following comment: "so that’s about 8-10 mpg equivalent to a gas truck" and related to the Silverado EV. Your point, while valid in its own right, relates to a different aspect of the discussion than the one to which I was responding, which was about efficiency.

 

[FRSandro]

TLDR With a medium weight and pretty aerodynamic load the AWD CT can tow for 115 miles if using 100% of the battery pack. Or if using 75% of the battery pack which is typical about 87 miles of towing range.
This is in line with the reports of the CT having about 200 miles of real world range, when not towing.

Third towing test that we know of, this one is the best by far for determining CT towing range, another tow test coming in later today if all goes well.

*A couple more edits and minor info additions*

AWD CT with Factory Tires
Temperature 61 f (no rain, sunny, very little wind)
Round trip of 111 miles - round trip eliminates wind/elevation impacts for the most part
Fan only for HVAC
Towing Tesla and Trailer (approximately 6,000 lbs)
Started trip with vehicle at Tesla V3 supercharger at 100% SOC
Ended trip at same supercharger at 3% SOC
The recharge to full took about two hours (battery was not preconditioned)
Under 200lbs of additional payload weight (humans/camers/etc)
Mix of city and some low speed highway, more precise stats on that coming once GPS info is compiled
Overall test was far from perfect, forgot to check trailer tire pressure, some breaking was needed so not ideal regen, but test had a lot going for it to be on the general side of range. Trailer used was not a premium trailer but a decent option and Good aero load, about half of towing capacity, warm weather, battery warmed up, etc. So not much room for range improvement unless towing a skateboard. Hopefully a SIGNIFICANT software and battery chemistry change from Tesla is coming to improve these towing and non-towing #s

Trip stats
121 kwh used
113 miles on round trip
Wh/mile 1078

Most test results coming in are using a uhal trailer with easy to find stats, but not all.

So if taking the CT from 100% to close to zero towing a 6,000 lb pretty aero efficient Tesla on mostly town roads and some highway CT towing range is approximately 115 miles in very good/mild towing conditions using the whole battery.
But a real world use of 75% of the battery pack gives the CT towing a modest load about 87 miles of range.
Props to tester/CT owner for putting together the logistics for this test will link video once it is public, will likely be a couple more edits to this post as I may have missed or misheard some stats. With a bigger load and higher speeds could be looking at as little as 50 miles of towing range with current data available.

Not a perfect comparison but early impression overall it looks like the CT performed a bit better than the Rivian R1T simular tests as far as total range loss when towing which is good.

Post is getting a little friction, believe me I wish the towing #s were better.
Not everyone needs to tow, but saying "why would you think you could tow with an EV truck" seems a little off given the adverting from tesla, some screenshots of that below...

TLDR
CT AWD Towing real world range with good conditions is about 90 miles.
In line with real world CT range of about 200 miles.

Well. I'M OUT.

 

[CyberGus]

There are a handful of pull through chargers, but they are very rare. You will need to plan on unhooking the trailer in a nearby parking lot, locking it up etc, charging, then hooking back up.
This is one downside of EV towing as 99% of gas stations you can pull through, so something to be aware of if you are going to be total towing more than 100 miles.

The Superchargers I have visited are virtually empty 99% of the time, since they are sized for max demand. You can charge without unhooking by blocking multiple stalls, without inconveniencing anyone.

But not on Thanksgiving lol

 

[Hemsing6]

TLDR With a medium weight and pretty aerodynamic load the AWD CT can tow for 115 miles if using 100% of the battery pack. Or if using 75% of the battery pack which is typical about 87 miles of towing range.
This is in line with the reports of the CT having about 200 miles of real world range, when not towing.

Third towing test that we know of, this one is the best by far for determining CT towing range, another tow test coming in later today if all goes well.

*A couple more edits and minor info additions*

AWD CT with Factory Tires
Temperature 61 f (no rain, sunny, very little wind)
Round trip of 111 miles - round trip eliminates wind/elevation impacts for the most part
Fan only for HVAC
Towing Tesla and Trailer (approximately 6,000 lbs)
Started trip with vehicle at Tesla V3 supercharger at 100% SOC
Ended trip at same supercharger at 3% SOC
The recharge to full took about two hours (battery was not preconditioned)
Under 200lbs of additional payload weight (humans/camers/etc)
Mix of city and some low speed highway, more precise stats on that coming once GPS info is compiled
Overall test was far from perfect, forgot to check trailer tire pressure, some breaking was needed so not ideal regen, but test had a lot going for it to be on the general side of range. Trailer used was not a premium trailer but a decent option and Good aero load, about half of towing capacity, warm weather, battery warmed up, etc. So not much room for range improvement unless towing a skateboard. Hopefully a SIGNIFICANT software and battery chemistry change from Tesla is coming to improve these towing and non-towing #s

Trip stats
121 kwh used
113 miles on round trip
Wh/mile 1078

Most test results coming in are using a uhal trailer with easy to find stats, but not all.

So if taking the CT from 100% to close to zero towing a 6,000 lb pretty aero efficient Tesla on mostly town roads and some highway CT towing range is approximately 115 miles in very good/mild towing conditions using the whole battery.
But a real world use of 75% of the battery pack gives the CT towing a modest load about 87 miles of range.
Props to tester/CT owner for putting together the logistics for this test will link video once it is public, will likely be a couple more edits to this post as I may have missed or misheard some stats. With a bigger load and higher speeds could be looking at as little as 50 miles of towing range with current data available.

Not a perfect comparison but early impression overall it looks like the CT performed a bit better than the Rivian R1T simular tests as far as total range loss when towing which is good.

Post is getting a little friction, believe me I wish the towing #s were better.
Not everyone needs to tow, but saying "why would you think you could tow with an EV truck" seems a little off given the adverting from tesla, some screenshots of that below...

TLDR
CT AWD Towing real world range with good conditions is about 90 miles.
In line with real world CT range of about 200 miles.

I suggest taking all tires to max psi cold ans listed on the tire and repost findings.

 

[VDR]

My bet is the Silverado will get about 1kWh/mile towing an average size load.

Makes me cringe as I just paid $.50/kWh to charge yesterday.

What you quoted on showed it did better(1.13) with an above average sized load

13 gallons at my local gas station right now is $3.99 = $51.87

123kWh at my local fast charger right now is $.50 kWh = $61.50

For traveling it does not make sense but most charging is at home for a fraction of that.

Tesla will still sell as many CTs as they can build for at least the next few years because the towing use case is maybe 10% of American pickup truck owners.

	Frequently	Occasionally	Rarely/Never
Shopping/Errands	87%	6%	7%
Pleasure Driving	70%	20%	9%
Commuting	52%	4%	44%
Personal Hauling	28%	41%	32%
Towing	7%	29%	63%

I think they will be backed up with orders for a while just to meet the demand of current Tesla owners that don't really need a truck but are switching from their current model for more versatility. This is not to speak of the pent up demand from SUV buyers and the look at me crowd. The vast majority that thought it would meet their towing needs will now look elsewhere since the critical towing specs are down 30%-45%.
I still think it is a pretty practical work truck for a lot of buyers.
I wonder how popular they will be once there is a 1/2 million of them on the road, I guess they will just drop the price & keep selling.

 

[canyoncarver]

What you quoted on showed it did better(1.13) with an above average sized load

For traveling it does not make sense but most charging is at home for a fraction of that.

	Frequently	Occasionally	Rarely/Never
Shopping/Errands	87%	6%	7%
Pleasure Driving	70%	20%	9%
Commuting	52%	4%	44%
Personal Hauling	28%	41%	32%
Towing	7%	29%	63%

I think they will be backed up with orders for a while just to meet the demand of current Tesla owners that don't really need a truck but are switching from their current model for more versatility. This is not to speak of the pent up demand from SUV buyers and the look at me crowd. The vast majority that thought it would meet their towing needs will now look elsewhere since the critical towing specs are down 30%-45%.
I still think it is a pretty practical work truck for a lot of buyers.
I wonder how popular they will be once there is a 1/2 million of them on the road, I guess they will just drop the price & keep selling.

I agree with the synopsis and I think Tesla have proven there are tons of levers they can pull to keep stimulating demand.

The most likely thing is that the inevitable eventual phase out of tax credits that require the CT weigh a certain amount will expire and at that point they will increase pack size/weight/capacity to increase the range.

Additional aero improvements could also increase range.... such as elimination of side mirrors if they can convince regulators to remove that requirement.

And of course once production is completely ramped they will likely reduce the price... that part is probably a couple of years out.

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