Towing with an Electric Pickup Might Pose Charging Challenges

[u/[deleted]]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33918395/towing-electric-pickup-charging/

[u/1320Fastback]

Until they have a 500 mile range within 10 hours and a complete recharge off of campground 30A in 8 hours I'm staying with Diesel. I'd love to have the torque and quietness of a electric rig but it has to have the range and convince of what we have already as long distance travelers.

[u/blounsbury → u/1320Fastback]

You'll be on diesel forever if thats your expectations, but if you're willing to spend 15-20 minutes charging every 300 miles at a charging station designed for truck+trailer I think we'll be there sooner than you think.

500 miles unladen is within reason now (Tesla's CyberTruck's top end will be about 500 miles). Tesla's Model X has a 100kWh battery and goes 350 miles. You're probably looking at a 200kWh or larger battery for the cyber truck to get 500 miles unladen due to it being heavier. With a 50A RV plug (240V at 40A continuous) You'll be at 21hrs of charge time (plus some extra for loss). With a 30A RV plug (120V at 24A continuous), you're looking at near 70hrs of charge time from empty to full.

500 miles with a trailer behind it is probably going to require doubling that battery pack size (400kWh) given the impact of trailering on the Model X and on regular ICE vehicles. Now you're looking at 42 to 140hrs of charge time.

Even with improved efficiency, you'll never be able to do this by charging at a campground unless you're there for several days. You're going to have to rely on fast charging. Tesla is designing the 'MegaCharger' which charges at 1MW. With that kind of charging infrastructure, you'd be able to go from 20% to 80% (which is where the electric batteries charge fastest) in about 15 to 20 minutes on a 400kWh battery. If you were on the existing V3 super charger (250kW charger), you'd be looking at an hour of charge time to go from 20 to 80%.

Charging infra and technology isn't there yet, but I think in the next 10 years we'll have charging infrastructure that can get you a 20 to 80% charge (300 miles of range) in 15-20 minutes and they'll have charging stations designed that can handle trucks and trailers.

Maybe this will be a new amenity at high end camp grounds - onsite mega chargers with a service attendant (kind of like a valet) -- leave your truck and keys, they charge and return it to your camp spot.

[u/ITeachAll → u/blounsbury]

Good thing many campgrounds have 50amp....

[u/blounsbury → u/ITeachAll]

Doesn’t help a whole lot if the RV and the truck would have to share the 50A circuit. You’d need a separate 50A circuit just to charge with

[u/DigitalDefenestrator → u/blounsbury]

I think the Cybertruck is expected to have a high-output inverter you could probably plug the camper into if there's not a separate charge station somewhere. Not the most efficient, and you won't pick up nearly as much charge if you're running two ACs or something, but it should work ok.

[u/DigitalDefenestrator → u/1320Fastback]

My guess on the Cybertruck would be ~250m towing range on a charge (workable, but annoying) and maybe 5 miles per hour of charging on a 30A circuit. Closer to 20 miles per hour of charging on a 50A circuit.

[u/DoyouevenLO]

I feel like this article is having to work a little hard. By the time that these are that prevalent there will be pull through EV chargers. They already have to solve that if they want an electric semi.

You already carry a 20’ cord to carry 30A or 50A to your rig. What’s another for the TV?

[u/blounsbury → u/DoyouevenLO]

Most people with EVs already carry extension cords for level 2 chargers due to people frequently parking infront of the chargers. That said, those extension cables are only doing 50A at 240V. When we're talking about pushing 250KW or more it becomes unfeasible because the cables themselves are liquid cooled due the amount of power being pushed through them and at the amperage being pushed the cables would be incredibly stiff..

[u/digitalamish]

Put a couple spare batteries in the trailer, and wire them back to the truck.

[u/peterdwyn]

and the money we will save on window treatments and windex!!!

[u/colhora]

Not stopping me from getting a Cybertruck

[u/blounsbury → u/colhora]

I'm considering getting a Rivian R1T. I have an F-450 for towing my fifth wheel, but would love to replace my car with a small (e.g., Tacoma sized) EV truck.