Photo: Dr_Stat bia Reddit | collage
Electric pickup truck owners discovered that towing affects range significantly. Still, this doesn't mean that towing a trailer during vacation is impossible. One Rivian R1T owner shared his experience after going on a 2,500-mile road trip with his Airstream Basecamp 20-ft travel trailer.
Pickup truck fans have been expecting an electric truck ever since Tesla teased the Cybertruck in November 2017. Alas, Tesla could not deliver on its promises, and by the time the Cybertruck becomes available later this year, the market is already crowded. Rivian was the first to launch an electric pickup in 2021, followed quickly by GMC Hummer EV and Ford F-150 Lightning. Chevrolet Silverado EV is coming this year, while the Ram 1500 REV and GMC Sierra EV are scheduled for 2024.
As excited as people were to drive an electric pickup, they quickly got disappointed by the limited towing range. Depending on the trailer's weight and shape, the range could be halved compared to the EPA rating. To be fair, this also happens with ICE trucks, but adding more gas is less of a problem than charging the battery in the middle of nowhere. This limits the usefulness of an electric truck, as you are confined to trips along the charging corridors and surrounding areas.
Still, this doesn't mean that towing a trailer is totally unpractical. Many have done it, and if the range is enough for your needs or the charging infrastructure is good, things should be great. Still, going on a long road trip with your family in a travel trailer can be another thing. An R1T owner has done it and lived to tell the story on the Rivian subreddit. Coming from a user with a nickname like "Dr_Stat," his experience is peppered with interesting information and, well, stats. This should help other owners better prepare for their road trips if they tow a trailer during vacation.
Dr_Stat traveled with an Airstream Basecamp 20-ft travel trailer, which he bought after renting several models to see which was best for his needs. During his road trip around the Western US, the R1T owner crossed six states and visited nine campsites. He also stopped at 17 charging stations along the way, besides the overnight charging at camps. The total cost for the trip was less than $270 in charging at one EVGo and ten Electrify America charging stations. Charging at the Rivian Adventure Network was free, and I assume overnight charging was included in the accommodation price at the campsites.
Dr_Stat revealed that the R1 T's range was solid throughout the trip, thanks to the aerodynamic shape of the Airstream. He averaged 1.3 miles per kWh (2.1 km/kWh), translating into about 175 miles of range. The Rivian R1T Quad Motor EPA range is 328 miles, so the towing range he got was more than half. Still, the range estimates by the truck's computer couldn't be trusted, as it consistently showed more than 200 miles. Dr_Stat used the ABRP app to stay on top of the situation. He also decided to travel between 300 and 350 miles per day with a charging stop to make the trip more enjoyable.
As excited as people were to drive an electric pickup, they quickly got disappointed by the limited towing range. Depending on the trailer's weight and shape, the range could be halved compared to the EPA rating. To be fair, this also happens with ICE trucks, but adding more gas is less of a problem than charging the battery in the middle of nowhere. This limits the usefulness of an electric truck, as you are confined to trips along the charging corridors and surrounding areas.
Still, this doesn't mean that towing a trailer is totally unpractical. Many have done it, and if the range is enough for your needs or the charging infrastructure is good, things should be great. Still, going on a long road trip with your family in a travel trailer can be another thing. An R1T owner has done it and lived to tell the story on the Rivian subreddit. Coming from a user with a nickname like "Dr_Stat," his experience is peppered with interesting information and, well, stats. This should help other owners better prepare for their road trips if they tow a trailer during vacation.
Dr_Stat traveled with an Airstream Basecamp 20-ft travel trailer, which he bought after renting several models to see which was best for his needs. During his road trip around the Western US, the R1T owner crossed six states and visited nine campsites. He also stopped at 17 charging stations along the way, besides the overnight charging at camps. The total cost for the trip was less than $270 in charging at one EVGo and ten Electrify America charging stations. Charging at the Rivian Adventure Network was free, and I assume overnight charging was included in the accommodation price at the campsites.
Dr_Stat revealed that the R1 T's range was solid throughout the trip, thanks to the aerodynamic shape of the Airstream. He averaged 1.3 miles per kWh (2.1 km/kWh), translating into about 175 miles of range. The Rivian R1T Quad Motor EPA range is 328 miles, so the towing range he got was more than half. Still, the range estimates by the truck's computer couldn't be trusted, as it consistently showed more than 200 miles. Dr_Stat used the ABRP app to stay on top of the situation. He also decided to travel between 300 and 350 miles per day with a charging stop to make the trip more enjoyable.
Google News