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Originally Posted by aerohead
*On mountain highway grades in excess of 2%,the EV,with regenerative braking,can provide runaway control via regenerative braking, which I understand will recover 80% of the kinetic energy,partially recharging the batteries on descents.
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Sure, but when the battery is full, you're done regenerating, done gaining back the (extra) energy you pumped in going uphill.
Regen might regain 80% of the kinetic energy, that's not a lot compared to the potential energy it can get stored in it due to the increased height.
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Without the regenerative-braking,the trailer forces me to use my brakes,causing an mpg penalty.
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But that penalty is entirely caused uphill.
If without the trailer you're not using fuel going downhill, and your speed is kept in check by the aerodynamic and/or engine drag, then there's simply nothing to gain by adding the trailer - regardless of its weight.
You simply can't improve upon infinite mpg - unless you add regen
Lightweight regeneration, that is, or you'll need to work off another weight penalty.
The trailer penalty will be less as it gets lighter, but without regen and short of a "design-downhill" matched to suit your streamlined combo, I'm rather confident the penalty will always be there in the mountains.
It'll get less as you shed weight, but it'll never go away completely.
So you might reconsider the time and expense you want to spend on it.
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I'm pretty confident that the trailer's extra weight is beating me up in the mountains.
So it's go on a diet, stick to the flat lands,or pay!
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Or get a vehicle with regen, and streamline that ...