How A Tesla Cybertruck Tows Against Diesel Ram Cummins, Ford F-150 XLT

After months of wavering, The Quick Lane (TFL) community of YouTube channels lastly determined to tug the set off on a Tesla Cybertruck. So it was solely a matter of time earlier than TFL Truck put the brand new electrical truck by way of its paces by towing on the Ike Gauntlet. 

For this take a look at, they’ve introduced alongside two different large gamers within the truck market to compete in opposition to. Not the F-150 Lightning or the Silverado EV. No, the Cybertruck will be dealing with off in opposition to a V8 Ford F-150 XLT and a diesel Ram Cummins.

The trailer and cargo towed right here weighs in at a mixed 8,800 lbs. As for the opponents, the Turbo Diesel Ram Cummins has 370 hp, 850 lb-ft of torque. This instance does have a number of off-road-focused modifications. However it’s nonetheless at its core constructed for towing and hauling. 

The F-150 XLT has a 5-liter V8 engine with 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque and based on the hosts sports activities a few of the greatest towing tech within the business. The Cybertruck has roughly 590 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Like most electrical vehicles, it has the benefit of recuperating vitality on the downhill which will assist the truck preserve pace and regenerate the battery. 

The take a look at itself averages speeds between 55 and 60 mph and is a mixture of uphill and downhill towing. Sustaining pace through the uphill climb could be tough for some vehicles because of the 11,160-foot elevation. Over time, a number of vehicles have overheated throughout this take a look at, together with the Ford F-150 Hybrid.  

And holding pace on the 8-mile 7% grade descent could be simply as tough. The objective for any ICE car on this take a look at is to finish the descent with as few brake functions as doable. Whereas EV efficiency on this downhill is measured by how a lot vitality is gained by way of regenerative braking. 

On the downhill, the Ram’s exhaust brake in tow haul mode saved it from exceeding 60 mph with out cruise management. Because of this, there wasn’t a necessity for a single brake utility through the descent. The Ford F-150 didn’t carry out fairly in addition to the Ram, requiring 8 brake functions on the downhill. However this was not a poor efficiency by any means. 

The Cybertruck started this identical descent at a 53% state of cost (SoC). In the course of the downhill, the hosts discovered so much to love concerning the electrical truck’s efficiency. “The steadiness of the truck and the consolation of the suspension I might fee extremely.” Mentioned Andre of the Cybertruck, who appeared impressed with the general dealing with and stability. “It’s truly fairly compliant.”

That they had some minor quibbles concerning the car’s lack of bodily controls and generally unintuitive software program. However Andre argued that “in the event you personal this car, it is going to take you a day or two to get acquainted with it. After which you’ll grow to be ‘one with the machine.’ Or so that you hope, proper?”

Nonetheless, they level out that the aspect mirrors aren’t nicely suited to towing, and there are presently no choices for extendable mirrors.

By the tip of the take a look at, the Cybertruck regenerated 6.1 kWh of vitality. This is definitely a fairly poor efficiency in comparison with the opposite electrical automobiles TFL Vans has examined on this route and is in keeping with different stories that the Cybertruck is not taking full benefit of regenerative braking when towing.

On the uphill climb, the Ram Cummins carried out nicely, ending the 7.4 mile run in 7 minutes 49 seconds. The climb was largely easy, with energy to spare. After all, effectivity dropped like a rock, averaging a mere 5.3 mpg. 

The Ford F-150 confirmed some limitations in comparison with the Ram. Not having a turbocharged engine, the hosts estimate a 30% energy loss because of the decrease air density. A number of sections required close to full throttle to take care of 60 mph. Even so, they’d simply sufficient energy to spare and managed to finish the climb in solely 7 minutes 47 seconds. Though the Ford solely averaged 4.7 mpg.

It’s on this part that the Cybertruck carried out exceptionally nicely. Merging into freeway visitors, accelerating from 35 to 60 mph took a mere in 5.73 seconds. The Ram and F-150 every took about 14.5 seconds to achieve cruising pace. This efficiency was additionally similar to the R1T’s 5.5 seconds, and considerably higher than the Lightning and Silverado EV.

The Cybertruck then started the 7.4-mile climb at just below 59% SoC and completed at 41% SoC in 7 minutes 49 seconds. Whereas it is a vital drop, the Cybertruck’s displaying was truly one of the environment friendly electrical vehicles TFL Truck has examined on the Ike to date. It must be famous that lots of components can affect into the effectivity calculations. So take the comparability with a grain of salt since they weren’t all carried out on the identical day underneath the identical situations.

The hosts got here away largely impressed with the Cybertruck, saying that for particular use circumstances, an electrical vehicles may very well be the perfect car. They provide a perfect electrical truck use case to somebody who steadily hauls their powerboat half an hour down the street to the lake. However they are not essentially the most effective instrument for each job. 

“When you’re pulling a trailer with an electrical truck it’s not going to be as straightforward when you’re going lengthy distances.” Explains Kase. “However over quick distances, like what we’re doing right here, these vehicles do carry out very well in that sense.” 

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