Failed towing experience

[Zoidz]

The guy was towing on US I-40. On that particular stretch of asphalt it is a passing lane, not a fast lane.

Aside, I have to unfortunately tell you that the left lane of the German Autobahn, called the “Überholspur”, quite literally translates to “passing lane”. There is no fast lane on the autobahn. Just a passing lane where people pass fast. Semantics at this point.

?

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/german-english/uberholspur

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[Tr4ckD4ys]

“Collins” doesn’t sound too German though… maybe ask a Duden.de or Pons.de. The translation here is of the verb “überholen” not the noun, despite what the link says. It’s not accurate.

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https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/german-english/uberholspur

 

[Zoidz]

I was going 100mph in the Autobahn fast lane when I saw a Porsche suddenly behind me flashing his headlights for me to get out of the way.

In some sections of the Autobahn, I have seen vehicles in the left lane with their left turn signal on continuously. I was told by my German companion that it means "I'm going fast, get out of my way". Craziest experience - I was doing 180 kmh (about 110 mph) and two bikes flew by like I was standing still. They had to be doing 160+ mph.

 

[Mathme]

Driving 75 without a trailer and I'll get about 1.5 miles/kWh. I can't even imagine what doing 80 with a trailer would do yo efficiency. These electric vehicles really consume a lot of electricity when doing anything over 70. Try dropping your speed down to 60 and leave with 100% SoC.

Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[COdogman]

In some sections of the Autobahn, I have seen vehicles in the left lane with their left turn signal on continuously. I was told by my German companion that it means "I'm going fast, get out of my way". Craziest experience - I was doing 180 kmh (about 110 mph) and two bikes flew by like I was standing still. They had to be doing 160+ mph.

I saw that too! It was definitely a humbling experience. I wasn't in a really fast car, but it wasn't slow compared to most cars. Compared to a 911 GT3 it was! I was in some diesel Mercedes wagon that wasn't sold in the US. Large by German standards LOL

After that I stayed in the middle lane the rest of that stretch until the speed limit went back down. But now I can say I drove on the Autobahn! Cross that off the bucket list

 

[Dark-Fx]

?

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/german-english/uberholspur

? indeed

 

[SANZC02]

Another EV specific thing to consider on a trip. Driving slower consumes less power and requires a lower starting charge percent.

An example would be the time difference to travel 100 miles between 65 mph and 75 mph is ~12 minutes. If you only need to charge to 80% driving 65 but need 95% driving 75 it is probably taking more than that 12 minutes to go from 80% to 95%

I typically go to a place in the desert about 120 miles away, I know I can make that so pay little attention to curbing my speed and just go with the flow of traffic.

However, when taking a longer trip where I need to stop a few times, I usually get on the freeway and set cruise to 65 and rarely charge above 80%. Driving I10 west from FL to CA in my R1S we were cruising around 65 most of the time. At one station we were talking to a guy in a Lightening, he was heading the same direction as we were. We left the EA station before he did, he later passed us on the highway, we pulled into the next EA station and he was there charging, we charged and left before him again. This cycle repeated 2 more times. Although he was driving faster than us we essentially traveled the same distance for close to 500 miles in roughly the same time, used less energy, and had no worries about getting a ticket.

 

[Fade5G]

Always charge to 100 before a long trip or if you are on one and have the time to do it while eating/shopping/whatever.

I actually did… my wife drove the vehicle across town and drained it to 80% and didn’t tell me until it was too late. Thought 85% would get me there based on numbers the range estimator showed. Clearly I was wrong and had false sense of confidence based on range I got going to Zion.

 

[strykerwsu]

on i40 in AZ/// no, not really. the fast lane is 90+. The slow lane isn't "slow"

Seems like better law enforcement is needed.

 

[Fade5G]

[/QUOTE]

70 MPH + 10 MPH headwind = 80 MPH wind speed hitting the truck.

Ambient temperature can have a big affect on range as well. Cold weather is also detrimental to range as is rain, snow, etc.

Lastly, I strongly recommend you check the speed rating on the trailer tires. They can easily overheat and a tire blowout on a single-axle trailet at 80 MPH will NOT be fun, but it will be exciting. A few years ago on my way to Dallas for a wedding a guy towing a large dual-axle 5th wheel blew past us while we were doing 75.

15 miles later he was stopped on the shoulder of the interstate. He and his wife were scratching their heads and gazing at a totally shredded left rear trailer tire.

Tires are rated to 106 mph. The trailer has KO2s.

 

[Fade5G]

@Fade5G, what are the weight and dimensions of your rig?

https://mammothoverland.com/amenities/

1650 lbs, 14 ft long, 7 ft wide

 

[Adventusaurus]

https://mammothoverland.com/amenities/

1650 lbs, 14 ft long, 7 ft wide

Cool trailer.

For elevation gain the math is simple. You can deduct the kWh for elevation from the battery capacity first, then if you figure 1 kWh per mile of additional drain (or whatever the energy meter displays for your cruising speed on flat ground), you can pretty easily beat the “guessometer” and predict your energy needs.

Epotential = mgh

with m in kg, g=10 and h in meters.

E will be in joules.

So with your trailer weight plus gear plus truck, your total mass is probably roughly 10k lbs.

1000 ft is roughly 300 meters.

E = 10,000/2.2 x 10 x 300 (per 1000 feet)
E = 13.6 Mj/1000 ft
E = 3.8 kWh/1000 ft

So roughly 3% battery capacity per 1000 ft elevation.

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