|
|
11-13-2019, 11:28 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21--FOR SALE
Posts: 411
|
Tesla truck to revolutionize RV towing?
https://www.anonews.co/tesla-announc...balJRTX5R3xr90
If the preliminary specs of the newly-announced Tesla pickup truck are even close to true, Elon Musk's EV will be a game-changer for those of us who tow a bumper-pull or 5th wheel trailer. And the sub-$50,000 USD price is competitive with the cost of a current gas and diesel trucks.
Imagine having torque that surpasses any fossil fuel powered truck, and spending a few dollars per trip for energy rather than several hundred. With far fewer moving parts, EVs require less maintenance, and new features can be added during every firmware update.
Immediately, campground owners could install some recharging connections, and add to them as more RVers switch to Teslas, the coming Ford F-150 electric, or other EV trucks. Roadside charging stations could add some longer lanes to accommodate EV trucks that has a trailer in tow.
I for one will enjoy camping more when the guilt about the big carbon footprint of my gas-guzzling truck is gone. Is anyone else looking forward to this revolution?
__________________
Brent and Cheryl.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 11:37 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,283
|
Hi Brent
I would have thought your comment was off base and way in the future a few years ago. However, when I parked in a lot next to an Arby’s fast food business in Sterling Colorado a couple years ago and there was line of charging stations with two Tesla’s hooked up I became a lot less of a skeptic. I see a Tesla every once in a while on the highway, especially in the Chicago area. They pass me just like everyone else as they mutter something about a doddering old codger.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 12:25 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
|
Where are you going to charge it at forestry sites in the interior, or on the Island? Do I have to bring my generator with me, and a can of gas?
Recent story on TV was about a couple who drove their EV to the cabin. They didn't count on a power failure and couldn't get out for several days, until power was restored.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 12:36 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Quimper Peninsula, Washington
Trailer: TBD
Posts: 369
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Do I have to bring my generator with me, and a can of gas?
|
A propane-fired generator might be a good idea when towing with the Tesla to remote areas.
__________________
Thanks,
~Farther
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 12:41 PM
|
#5
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 20
|
Rivian also building a very compelling E-Truck w/ deliveries to commence in 2020.
https://rivian.com/
I was just recently lamenting the fact that there aren't even PHEV tow vehicles that could get you around town with a 25 mile or so battery. I would have expected something like that to come out before a full blown electric solution since you still get off the grid unleaded range. No complaints though! These are exciting times!
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 12:53 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21--FOR SALE
Posts: 411
|
Range management
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Where are you going to charge it at forestry sites in the interior, or on the Island? Do I have to bring my generator with me, and a can of gas?
Recent story on TV was about a couple who drove their EV to the cabin. They didn't count on a power failure and couldn't get out for several days, until power was restored.
|
EV charging sites are proliferating, the range of EVs is increasing, and doubtless there are breakthroughs to come. An EV truck owner would just have to do the math for each trip. Drivers worried about range could bring along a generator in their EV, or keep towing with their current gas or diesel unit.
__________________
Brent and Cheryl.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 12:58 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,283
|
The technological advances that are still to come or at least be revealed may well take the “stranded” factor away from the dead battery scenario. Even the old Honda motorcycles of the 60’s had a reserve side to their fuel tanks. And I’m sure there were similar earlier provisions. I could see satellite communication locating the vehicle, remaining charge and location of the nearest operable charging site with a built in cushion. Assuming the operator would pay attention and heed the low charge warning, being stranded would be averted.
Who knows what the future holds?
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 01:23 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,040
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
The technological advances that are still to come or at least be revealed may well take the “stranded” factor away from the dead battery scenario. Even the old Honda motorcycles of the 60’s had a reserve side to their fuel tanks. And I’m sure there were similar earlier provisions. I could see satellite communication locating the vehicle, remaining charge and location of the nearest operable charging site with a built in cushion. Assuming the operator would pay attention and heed the low charge warning, being stranded would be averted.
Who knows what the future holds?
Iowa Dave
|
Hi: Iowa Dave... Which came first, the electric car or the charging station? What would your daddy think of them? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 01:46 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,283
|
The old days
Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: Iowa Dave... Which came first, the electric car or the charging station? What would your daddy think of them? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
|
Hi Alf
My Dad would have probably taken it all in stride. He was well aware of Electric cars of the early part of the 20th century, the garages with turntables since they often didn’t have a reverse, wind chargers for Model T coils etc. Straffed by an early NAZI jet aircraft in Germany he watched it hit the treetops and disintegrate. He’d later tell me “man she was fast all right but the pilot was a little late pulling up”. How amazing to think that his grandson has done cockpit display work on the Lockheed X59 QueSst supersonic plane that will fly at Mach 1.42 without a windshield and with a very low sonic “thump” as it glides by. Times change but one constant is that my dad and I and my son all enjoy(d) the out of doors and a shot of good bourbon whiskey. The beat goes on. Hope you’re having a great fall and looking forward to a good winter.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 02:05 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
I for one will enjoy camping more when the guilt about the big carbon footprint of my gas-guzzling truck is gone. Is anyone else looking forward to this revolution?
How do you think that electric is created to recharge these vehicles? Crossing Wyoming I witnessed a huge strip mine on the left side of the highway with conveyors of coal under the highway to a large coal burning electric generating plant on the opposite side of the highway.....you may not see it, but the carbon footprints are there for electric vehicles. Solar and wind provides something less than 20% of our energy use currently.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 02:40 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,107
|
EVs seem to be pretty durable as well. That makes sense since they have few moving parts, but even so this is impressive:
https://qz.com/1737145/the-economics...=pocket-newtab
I may have to start taking these things seriously. Well, maybe in a few years. And probably not for towing.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 04:12 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farther
A propane-fired generator might be a good idea when towing with the Tesla to remote areas.
|
Do you want to carry enough fuel to run the generator enough to charge the Tesla's battery enough to get out?
My thinking is that if you want to drive on energy from plugging in, either get a hybrid, or get a battery-electric vehicle but stay within range of a known charging source.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 04:21 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
How do you think that electric is created to recharge these vehicles? Crossing Wyoming I witnessed a huge strip mine on the left side of the highway with conveyors of coal under the highway to a large coal burning electric generating plant on the opposite side of the highway.....you may not see it, but the carbon footprints are there for electric vehicles. Solar and wind provides something less than 20% of our energy use currently.
|
But the largest source of electricity in many areas is hydroelectric generation - 60% of all electrical energy in Canada and similar in some areas of the U.S.. In half of Canadian provinces, with a large majority of the nation's population, fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) supply a small to negligible fraction of energy to the electrical grid.
There are consequences to all energy sources, but it is not valid to assume that using electricity means running a coal-fired generating station.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 04:27 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catchlight
https://www.anonews.co/tesla-announc...balJRTX5R3xr90
If the preliminary specs of the newly-announced Tesla pickup truck are even close to true, Elon Musk's EV will be a game-changer for those of us who tow a bumper-pull or 5th wheel trailer. And the sub-$50,000 USD price is competitive with the cost of a current gas and diesel trucks.
|
Unfortunately, what Musk promises is rarely true. If the promised cost or performance is delivered, it is years after it was supposed to be available. If you doubt this, try to find someone who actually bought a Tesla Model 3 for $35K USD... ever, let alone when the Model 3 was introduced.
A more realistic idea of what the coming EV pickups will be like comes from Rivian, who has actually built and shown prototypes. The price is much higher, and range while towing a travel trailer will be disappointing to most people.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 05:02 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
But the largest source of electricity in many areas is hydroelectric generation - 60% of all electrical energy in Canada and similar in some areas of the U.S.. In half of Canadian provinces, with a large majority of the nation's population, fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) supply a small to negligible fraction of energy to the electrical grid.
There are consequences to all energy sources, but it is not valid to assume that using electricity means running a coal-fired generating station.
|
Not to argue, but the worlds energy consumption is 90% fossil fuels, coal, gas, oil with hydro, solar and other making up the difference. Canada maybe ahead of the US and elsewhere with hydroelectric. What ever happened to atomic energy, it was really big post WWII but they seem to be shutting down,
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 05:42 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
|
The pickup trucks are going to be a very nice addition to EV lineups. They are approaching 4-500 range on some models, with about a 30 minute recharge capability. Most FT only drive about 200-300 mi per day on travel days, so these EV pickups cud work well.
I’d definitely look at that option when our Frontier is ready to change out in a couple of years.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 06:28 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Not to argue, but the worlds energy consumption is 90% fossil fuels, coal, gas, oil with hydro, solar and other making up the difference. Canada maybe ahead of the US and elsewhere with hydroelectric.
|
Right... but we're not talking about a tow vehicle for Africa.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
What ever happened to atomic energy, it was really big post WWII but they seem to be shutting down
|
The province of Ontario and some areas of the U.S. use largely nuclear generation, with stations that were mostly built decades ago. Getting approval for one now would be difficult, and older stations have reached the end of their service lives and have been decommissioned. The Daiichi stations which failed in Fukushima Japan will not be replaced with more nuclear plants; they're even planning wind and solar installations on the contaminated farmland.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 06:30 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg A
The pickup trucks are going to be a very nice addition to EV lineups. They are approaching 4-500 range on some models, with about a 30 minute recharge capability. Most FT only drive about 200-300 mi per day on travel days, so these EV pickups cud work well.
I’d definitely look at that option when our Frontier is ready to change out in a couple of years.
|
Good points, but now divide the range by two for towing, and they suddenly look marginal.
In a couple of years I don't think an EV pickup will be a realistic option yet, but it could happen.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 06:32 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
A more realistic idea of what the coming EV pickups will be like comes from Rivian, who has actually built and shown prototypes.
|
I should have noted that I would not be surprised if Rivian never actually sells their pickup and SUV to the public, but becomes only a component supplier to Ford and others, and perhaps a commercial vehicle manufacturer.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 07:20 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 19'
Posts: 326
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|