Tesla towing an Air Stream

https://nikolamotor.com/one

Times are changing. Some day gas and diesel powered vehicles will be in the minority.

I don't see pure electrics as practical tow vehicles for a long time, if at all. Wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of diesel electric hybrids to take advantage of energy recovery though.

tatest wrote:
Tesla X should make a great tow vehicle, so long as you can find charging stations everywhere you are traveling. Maybe every 100 miles, or as often as 70 miles?

289 mile nominal range is based on performance with light load, mixed driving cycle, and great aerodynamics of the car itself (0.24 CD). A trailer with 60-80 sq ft and CD more like 0.8 to 0.9 is going to triple or quadruple drag on the highway, and at least double the loads for acceleration and grade climbing.

Electric cars are a move in the right direction, charging technology is improving, but they need a great expansion of charging infrastructure. When that is in place, electricity will not be given away free.

The trailer pictured is suspect. It looks like one of the 25-foot floorplans, and even if a basic Flying Cloud the empty weight will be over the listed towing capacity of the Tesla X. A Bambi or a 19-20 foot (single axle) Flying Cloud would be more credible as a tow for a light SUV.

Humm..a 23 foot Flying cloud base weight is under the specified towing rating of the x model ...the receiver that is based on is very minimal and I'd expect trivial improvements would increase the capacity to far more than the current 5,000# rating if Tesla wants that for a demo.
The elephant in the room is the charging, but then where is the most likely place to be able to drive up to a 50 Amp plug beside most major highways, and the power is free to those staying there, while infastructure is being developed? Hum....let me think ....
The Canadians who already did this brought piles of extra batteries and solar panels, expensive way to double their range. They saw half the range of normal, with a smaller trailer and but when going through the rookies. Highly variable with speed of course.
Hey it is a demo, not too practical yet but what is easy to do makes for a boring demo.

tatest wrote:
Tesla X should make a great tow vehicle, so long as you can find charging stations everywhere you are traveling. Maybe every 100 miles, or as often as 70 miles?

289 mile nominal range is based on performance with light load, mixed driving cycle, and great aerodynamics of the car itself (0.24 CD). A trailer with 60-80 sq ft and CD more like 0.8 to 0.9 is going to triple or quadruple drag on the highway, and at least double the loads for acceleration and grade climbing.

Electric cars are a move in the right direction, charging technology is improving, but they need a great expansion of charging infrastructure. When that is in place, electricity will not be given away free.

The trailer pictured is suspect. It looks like one of the 25-foot floorplans, and even if a basic Flying Cloud the empty weight will be over the listed towing capacity of the Tesla X. A Bambi or a 19-20 foot (single axle) Flying Cloud would be more credible as a tow for a light SUV.

What would happen if the batteries were interchangeable?

Shai Agassi Ted Talks on electric cars

Tesla X should make a great tow vehicle, so long as you can find charging stations everywhere you are traveling. Maybe every 100 miles, or as often as 70 miles?

289 mile nominal range is based on performance with light load, mixed driving cycle, and great aerodynamics of the car itself (0.24 CD). A trailer with 60-80 sq ft and CD more like 0.8 to 0.9 is going to triple or quadruple drag on the highway, and at least double the loads for acceleration and grade climbing.

Electric cars are a move in the right direction, charging technology is improving, but they need a great expansion of charging infrastructure. When that is in place, electricity will not be given away free.

The trailer pictured is suspect. It looks like one of the 25-foot floorplans, and even if a basic Flying Cloud the empty weight will be over the listed towing capacity of the Tesla X. A Bambi or a 19-20 foot (single axle) Flying Cloud would be more credible as a tow for a light SUV.

leeper wrote:
You don't see the problem with an electric car towing a trailer up a mountain road? Have you ever been behind an electric car going up a steep grade? I have, very slow! You don't think there is a difference between a gasoline vehicle and an electric one?

What vehicle? Must be a home built or just a pokey driver. Electric will easily keep up with anything powered by gasoline.

Maybe you are commenting on a vehicle you have never driven? My RAV4 will absolutely roast the front wheels if you put your foot in it.

leeper wrote:

gbopp wrote:

leeper wrote:
Great just what we need. Now wait for some ding dong to tow it without a driver, auto-pilot.

I'm sure that's what they said at the dawn of the internal combustion engine. :)

Apparently you see a problem with electric vehicles being used as tow vehicles? Could you share it?
I really don't see a difference between gas, diesel or electric. Except for the current limited range of electric vehicles.

Electric and self driving vehicles may be the future of transportation. Or we could go back to horses.

Can you share how you know what was said at the dawn of the combustion engine? You don't see the problem with an electric car towing a trailer up a mountain road? Have you ever been behind an electric car going up a steep grade? I have, very slow! You don't think there is a difference between a gasoline vehicle and an electric one?

Just curious. Why would an electric vehicle be slow going up a grade. What type of vehicle was it. I have driven a bunch of electric vehicles and own one. None have ever been slow on a grade, just the opposite. Curious. What was it.

LJAZ wrote:

John & Angela wrote:

LJAZ wrote:

John & Angela wrote:

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
the beginning of the "FUN" of driving coming to an END.

I take that back.. it started with cell phone/computer while driving started it's end.


as "far" as drive system. no real difference.. when they get the recharge in 10 minutes working and available like gas stations.

Heh heh You may want to take a few more electric vehicles for a drive. WAAAY more fun than a gas burner. More power, quieter, nimble. Right now ferrari, lambourghini, Mazerati are trying to figure out how to make their million dollar 2 seat gas burners with 5000 dollar per year maintenance costs compete with a 100,000 American made Tesla with four coffee cup holders and a baby seat. 2.5 seconds zero to sixty and no chance of wheel spin. :) :)

Think Porsche 918. Gas engine has 600 hp, add in the electric motors and your at 880 hp and 940 ft-lb torque:E

Sounds like a nice car. Let me know when it can catch a Tesla. And I'll betcha its a lot more bucks.

We took a tesla for a drive last winter. Not in my budget but great car, Great American car Company. Some of the technology ended up in our little puddle jumper but nothing like the Tesla in terms of performance. Still drops many cars off the line though. Way fun.

It'll be waiting at the finish line for the Tesla. Car & Driver test of 0 - 60 was 2.2 seconds. OTOH you could buy 10 Teslas for the price of one Porshe 918.

HOLY Karp. That is a fast car. Can you imagine the G forces/. Hang on to your eyballs. :)

John & Angela wrote:

LJAZ wrote:

John & Angela wrote:

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
the beginning of the "FUN" of driving coming to an END.

I take that back.. it started with cell phone/computer while driving started it's end.


as "far" as drive system. no real difference.. when they get the recharge in 10 minutes working and available like gas stations.

Heh heh You may want to take a few more electric vehicles for a drive. WAAAY more fun than a gas burner. More power, quieter, nimble. Right now ferrari, lambourghini, Mazerati are trying to figure out how to make their million dollar 2 seat gas burners with 5000 dollar per year maintenance costs compete with a 100,000 American made Tesla with four coffee cup holders and a baby seat. 2.5 seconds zero to sixty and no chance of wheel spin. :) :)

Think Porsche 918. Gas engine has 600 hp, add in the electric motors and your at 880 hp and 940 ft-lb torque:E

Sounds like a nice car. Let me know when it can catch a Tesla. And I'll betcha its a lot more bucks.

We took a tesla for a drive last winter. Not in my budget but great car, Great American car Company. Some of the technology ended up in our little puddle jumper but nothing like the Tesla in terms of performance. Still drops many cars off the line though. Way fun.

It'll be waiting at the finish line for the Tesla. Car & Driver test of 0 - 60 was 2.2 seconds. OTOH you could buy 10 Teslas for the price of one Porshe 918.

When ya'll are 85 and the kids say "dad time to give up the keys " you can give em all the finger and get in your self driver and go about your day.

i can't wait