Range with Tonneau open or close

[crashmtb]

Well, the next obvious question is whether theh had it open or closed for EPA testing...

Wouldn’t matter in a test cell

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[SeaGeo]

Wouldn’t matter in a test cell

It would effect their real world data used to get a smaller deduction though

 

[crashmtb]

It would effect their real world data used to get a smaller deduction though

We know it would’ve been closed, because it doesn’t open right ?

 

[SeaGeo]

We know it would’ve been closed, because it doesn’t open right ?

Thinking back, I feel like most of their driving was with the cross bars or a tent. It makes me curious what they had on the truck when collecting their EPA data.

 

[crashmtb]

Thinking back, I feel like most of their driving was with the cross bars or a tent. It makes me curious what they had on the truck when collecting their EPA data.

Probably used the same truck they ran on the dyno, which didn’t have crossbars

 

[the long way downunder]

THat's basically the gist of my question. I don't recall seeing any mention of it in the EPA docs. Who's to define what "default" is for a cover on a truck bed? WIndows, sunroof, and hood are totally different imo. There's also nothing that would have prevented them from using a conservative approach. I'm with you that I suspect that they had it closed though.

Pretty sure this is exactly the reason Rivian is making RAN closed to Rivian's in the short term. They want to provide QoS with capacity headroom and a reliable experience that doesn't rely on EA. EVGO doesn't really count IMO because their expansion is so focused on urban areas (which confuses me with their GM partnership).

Some EVgo pedestals include a Tesla connector (I'm too lazy to research whatever business deal or regulation has created this arrangement.) I hope the next 5 years sees commonality and open standards, not proprietary incompatible hardware and nonsense software restrictions.

 

[ironpig]

could just have the tailgate down -

Assume you are joking because tail down would be worse range.

 

[ads75]

I have to imagine the tonneau cover open or closed won't make a difference. If it being closed made a significant difference, I have to imagine all the legacy ICE manufacturers would make them standard to get as much mpg as possible.

 

[Jehorton]

Close it to keep the snow off your tools.

No snow in Florida

 

[the long way downunder]

Obligatory old-timey looking Mythbusters video where this question + others are tested and addressed:

I'm not qualified to challenge their results.

They concluded a "mesh" tailgate (plastic net) was 5% more efficient than tailgate up or with a solid bed cover / "torneau" … but they didn't say if the cover was more efficient than the tailgate alone. Also, at 55 mph, their test was in the first decimal place with a fuel flow meter (which doesn't measure fuel returned to the tank by the injection system) which would be a margin of error in the first decimal place. In short, the MythBuster boys were bored with driving an old F-150 around South San Francisco to document 5% variability.
I'm surprised (incredulous) that the mesh worked to the tune of 5%.
At 24 mpg and $4/gal, that's about $160 per 1000 miles, so maybe $8 per 1000 miles above 55mph.
If you're average annual mileage is 15,000 and you spend "half" your miles on the freeway, you could be "saving" $100/year. "ish"
I just made the cross-country drive (2000 miles) to round up the family for xmas/ny …

That's about $555 and subtract the first $100 to start and end with a full tank, so about $220 per 1000 miles (speeds more like 85 mph.) Average $4/gal would be $450/4=112 gallons (approx) or 2000/112 = 17.8 mpg … nowhere near 24 mpg … but for a full cabin and heavy gear in the bed (I have the Ford metal roll-up bed cover on KO2s … driving with the objective of highest possible average speed, not highest mpg, 17-18 mpg isn't great for a 2021 vehicle (not much better than my 2015 or 2010 or 2000 model year V8s in gas or diesel) I wasn't expecting 24 mpg or even 20. It's an easy 450 miles per tank with a reserve and on a long haul drive, I'm ready to get out of the saddle every 5-6 hours anyway.

 

[the long way downunder]

Also, their old F-150 was around:
5 gph at 55 mph = 11 mpg
1.2 gph at 25 mph = 20.8 mpg
So if I'm prepared to drive at 25 mph and take 2 to 3 times longer for any given trip, while being a rolling road hazard on the freeway, I can probably improve my 17 mpg to 24 mpg … yeah … sure … why not … ? : )

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