2daMoon
Mostly Harmless
I haven't seen those posts (I don't facebook ), but hopefully the authors have specific trailers in mind if they think they are doing useful guesstimating. I always see people demanding to know the towing range of EV trucks, but not realizing that the trailer itself is going to play a huge role.
The added cost of towing will always come down to:
- How heavy the trailer is (combined with the friction in the axles and the tire rolling resistance)
- The aerodynamic size and shape of the trailer
- How the aerodynamic shape of the vehicle interplays with the aerodynamic shape of the trailer to make the total drag when towing
- Conditions along the route (speed, wind, hill climbing, etc.)
I'm fairly confident I could get a super-light trailer and attach a few vertical pieces of plywood mounted with the full 4x8' shape facing the wind (acting like a parachute) and create a trailer weighing about 500 lbs that would absolutely ruin the range of the tow vehicle at 70 mph.
Heck, you could even "tow" 20 pounds actual parachute behind your car (like the way drag racers stop), and destroy your range at high speed.
Likewise, I could get a sturdy flatbed trailer, load it down with 10,000 lbs of steel plates laying flat so the whole thing is only a couple feet high, add an aerodynamic cover and grease up the axles, over-inflate the tires, and drive along at 50 mph on a flat road and end up with a range not too far off of EPA ratings.
Real world trailers aren't going to be at quite those extremes...but there's going to be a big difference in the aerodymic shape and weight profiles of whatever trailer a given user plans to tow, and therefore big differences in the impact to range.
In addition we should fully expect to see some manufacturer bring modular upgrades for existing trailers that include a battery, motor, axle and springs package.
Drop the trailer's existing axle and springs, then install the appropriately sized replacement e-axle(s) kit. Re-tag the trailer for any adjustment for effect of additional weight to the GVWR, and roll.
This would work well for utility and camper trailers paired with an EV, though wouldn't address any aerodynamic problems the existing trailer might bring.
Last edited: