Community Forums

astrnmrtom · 07-17-2022, 01:16 PM

While only a single example, it is revealing.

https://www.motorious.com/articles/f...g-towing-test/

The days of tooling down the road in a EV Rv is a ways away.

DavidEM · 07-17-2022, 02:19 PM

I don't think EV towing will ever be successful unless the trailer is very light and low and streamlined or the trailer itself has big propulsion batteries and motors to assist.

It isn't hard to understand why. Most TVs get about half of their highway mpgs when towing a decent size trailer, ie the energy required is double. But also, EV batteries when worked hard don't have as much Ah capacity as when not towing. That may be why the computer overestimated the available EV towing distance.

So, between using twice as much energy and having less real battery capacity you will generally get less than half of the miles before charging in an EV vehicle as while not towing.

BTW I don't expect a battery powered propulsion system on a trailer to be on the market any time soon, if ever.

David

move on · 07-17-2022, 03:21 PM

At 1/3 the range when towing, this truck will never make it for RV use. It's really being marketed for small contractors and for daily drivers. I have my doubts as to how many people will pay the premium for a BEV. Even with government subsidies its going to cost a lot.

1JetDoc · 07-17-2022, 03:45 PM

I have always held that before I owned an electric powered car, it would have to be capable of driving nonstop for at least 300 miles between charges and fully recharge in less than 15 minutes. The same goes for an electric RV or vehicle used for towing a trailer. I don't see that coming in the near future.

Move on makes a good point though... If all you're going to do is city driving or commuting to a local jobsite, an electric vehicle may not be that bad. Plug it in every evening when you get home and it's always ready to go again in the morning.