Engineering Explained:Why Tesla's Are Bad at Towing

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

Specifically:
*The taller Ram,and its turbulent wake exposes less of Showstar's forebody to dynamic pressure,an advantage lost on the Model X,but not Cybertruck.

But much like the Tesla Model X, the Cybertruck has a 'fastback body', which will not help as much as the more flat back of an SUV or large pickup truck...

At least I think so, if I am following all those items you are adding to the first post.

Your logic is good.From what I gather at the Tesla owner's website,they put some thought into what they're going to pull.I wouldn't use the Cybertruck without some sort of aero add-on.
There are no technological boundaries forbidding the use of tuned fairings or air deflectors as mentioned in the post.We have a potential 52% drag reduction on the table.Just like for the Model X.Really,any vehicle.
We could use a HUMMER H2 to pull with,and we'd see less impact to its mpg when towing.However,we'd have to put up with 11-mpg to enjoy that benefit.
I believe the new JEEP pickup got 4.8-mpg pulling the same Cimarron,and couldn't even maintain the posted 60-mph speed limit,up the grade.It's large,turbulent wake wasn't much help to it.However,since it's an 'ICE' vehicle,it's 4.8-mpg is superior to the Tesla's 48-mpg!
If you re-watch the video of the 'Gauntlet',see if you can discern an 18-wheeler in the climbing lane,pulling a trailer van, with a frontal area discrepancy between trailer and tractor,as large as that between the Cimarron and Tesla.We have data from 1980's NASA that, the optimum scenario for pulling is,with the tow vehicle and trailer frontal areas closely matched,and as little,or no gap in between them.Cimarron and BOREAS are both a 'fail.'

[Xist]

Woah, Slowmover was banned? Was it for his comments about Florida?

[redpoint5]

SM pushed the boundaries of the Overton Window... but I appreciate his comments regardless, even if I am not in agreement with some of where he went with those comments. Being critical of ideas is a good thing, and seems to be accepted here, but bigotry is not useful...

Hopefully a temporary ban...

Sometimes I jump on here after a few drinks, and what little restraint I have with my comments go unfiltered. Sorry Xist!

[Xist]

"No offense intended."
"None comprehended."--Homer Simpson

[teoman]

We should not have banned him.

[freebeard]

Hopefully a temporary ban...

Hopefully the mods will take pity on our benighted souls and post a comment below
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[Hersbird]

I was always told eat the meat and spit out the bones. It works well when reading opinions on the internet especially.

[freebeard]

Can anyone explain this?

01-16-2020, 11:47 PM
Replies: 86
Engineering Explained:Why Tesla's Are Bad
Views: 1,319
Posted By slowmover
Place trans in Neutral. Steer, only.

I'd swear I read that but now it's gone.

slowmover
Banned
User Lists
Last Activity: Yesterday 08:22 PM

If [user] banned, then why activity? If Place trans in Neutral. Steer, only were embedded in my motor memory, I might not have been defeated by black ice.

[aerohead]

I found what's left of my PhotoBucket images for 100% mpg trailers.I left the instructions at the bottom of article on page one of this thread.

[redpoint5]

Pretty decent video from EE about why it's important to focus engineering efforts on ICE vehicles instead of devoting them 100% to EV.

He quotes an article that says ICE powertrains cost the manufacturer ~$6,500 to build, and EV powertrains cost ~$16,500 to build. This is right in line with how much I said EVs need to come down in price; about $10k. The $7,500 federal tax subsidy doesn't quite cover the added cost, and when that goes away, EVs are in a world of hurt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hatav_Rdnno