Engineering Explained:Why Tesla's Are Bad at Towing

[redpoint5]

We had a tradition of going to the Oregon State fairgrounds on 4th of July to watch the demolition derby and fireworks. Fond memories. I always cheered for the vehicle painted most patriotically, and it seems they usually won. Guess you don't mess with Murica.

It was infinitely more entertaining than the video of a limo racing nobody in a mediocre rendering engine. Is this the new Rick Roll?

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Design should have an efficiency focus, but it's also got to appeal to the consumer. The most efficient design in the world means nothing if consumers don't buy it.

Makes me wonder how GM, Toyota, and Ford can all make such ugly cars (talking hybrid/EV here) yet the Toyotas are the only ones with decent drag coefficients. lol

*cough* 0.25 vs 0.33s+ *cough*

[freebeard]

It was infinitely more entertaining than the video of a limo racing nobody in a mediocre rendering engine. Is this the new Rick Roll?

Agreed the graphics leave room for improvement.

Forza Motorsport 8 Details REVEALED | Xbox Series X, Ray Tracing, Physics, GDC 2020 Graphics & More

On some new Xbox with ray-tracing offloaded from the GPU, you get atmospheric effects like rain. We may be living in a simulation anyway.

Like I said, I'm not part of the video game generation but according to Wikipedia there're 20 demoliton derby video games. All I know is the pool of neat old cars is smaller. Except the 1964-66 Imperial:

Competitors have traditionally used full-size, American-made sedans and station wagons, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s,[1] which are larger, heavier, and had more robust frames than later full-size vehicles. The 1964-1966 Chrysler Imperial achieved near-legendary status for its crashworthiness, and it is still banned from most derby events.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Makes me wonder how GM, Toyota, and Ford can all make such ugly cars (talking hybrid/EV here) yet the Toyotas are the only ones with decent drag coefficients. lol

*cough* 0.25 vs 0.33s+ *cough*

I find the Ford Fusion to be attractive. It looks like an Aston Martin. I've read .275 for that one. Prius verges on unattractive. I don't really remember any GM vehicle, so that probably means it's neither attractive or unattractive.

Originally Posted by freebeard

Agreed the graphics leave room for improvement.

On some new Xbox with ray-tracing offloaded from the GPU, you get atmospheric effects like rain. We may be living in a simulation anyway.

Like I said, I'm not part of the video game generation but according to Wikipedia there're 20 demoliton derby video games. All I know is the pool of neat old cars is smaller. Except the 1964-66 Imperial:

A demolition derby with modern cars wouldn't be too exciting because they'd all die on the first hit. I drove an '85 Volvo that probably would have held up reasonably well. We've got that Buick Riviera that would probably dominate.

One of my favorite games at Wonderland arcade as a kid was demolition derby. I downloaded the rom so I can play on a PC, but I haven't been a gamer in about 5 years or so.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Nobody has explained to my satisfaction how the title Engineering Explained:Why Tesla's Are Bad is not about Tesla but about Rivian and towing trailers.

Oh, I'm sorry that was my claim to defend. Although both the titles say Teslas, if you watch the video it is just about EV towing. As Tesla doesn't make anything capable of towing more than a personal water craft, I pointed out it really is going to be about why the Rivian is bad at towing. Next would be why the Bollinger is bad at towing. Then why the electric F150 is bad at towing. And finally a year after that when this thread is 150 pages long, why Teslas are bad at towing.

The video maker throws the Tesla in there because... clickbait. Putting anything good/bad Tesla in the title gets you paid on youtube. You should try it, "can a Tesla out drift a limo in reverse?" Then put big 'Tesla Fail!' Or 'Tesla explodes!', or 'Free Tesla!' In big red letters on the opening screen. 100,000 views guaranteed.

[freebeard]

Thanks for including simulated vehicles in the discussion. I know towing is not in the title, and I've probably posted an obscure title once or twice.

I consider towing a special case, but obs some see it as a bounding case.

The thing that stands out for me is the monocoque-and-girder construction. I'm currently working on a design for a Cyberhouse. It has skylights detailed like the Cybertruck windshield and doors/windows detailed like the Cybertruck side windows, recessed with a black reveal.

[freebeard]

Thanks for including simulations in the topic.

I think comparing the vehicles in a simulator would reduce a lot of variables, and provide valid comparisons. That said I'm not part of that culture; although anyone with an Android phone could be:


Camper Van Truck Simulator: Cruiser Car Trailer 3D - Android Apps on Google Play
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As a standard RV-sized aerodynamic load I propose:



An improvement might be a boxed cavity on the back.

[hayden55]

Really hoping capacitors make some sort of impact on EVS. After being heavily subjected to them now since 2016 they are a great option for anything that doesn't need to charge immediately. But this is pretty much the reason why motorsports hasn't tapped in too much. Takes too long to charge them for long range stuff! Really hoping Tesla and all the academic /oem research partnerships get something going.

[redpoint5]

They would have to increase in energy density many fold to replace batteries, and that doesn't resolve the issue of high power chargers being a huge money pit for owners. In fact, the slower the "fast charger", the more likely an owner is to break even on cost.

I see an application for rapidly recovering braking energy, or a quick boost of power for acceleration. Beyond that, barring a many fold increase in energy density, I don't see much application.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

They would have to increase in energy density many fold to replace batteries, and that doesn't resolve the issue of high power chargers being a huge money pit for owners. In fact, the slower the "fast charger", the more likely an owner is to break even on cost.

I see an application for rapidly recovering braking energy, or a quick boost of power for acceleration. Beyond that, barring a many fold increase in energy density, I don't see much application.

Yeah they aren't good for large storage. Maybe Tesla bought maxwell to do capacitor braking setups.