Cybertruck Tripping in Australia – CleanTechnica

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We wish to dispel some FUD and have a variety of enjoyable on the similar time. Colin Stiff lately instructed me how he towed his teardrop caravan from Yeppoon to Sydney for an early “shock” viewing of the Tesla Cybertruck. He went Cybertruck tripping.

We’re often instructed: “You possibly can’t tow a caravan with that!” and “There aren’t any electrical utes on this planet.” Phrases that generally come out of the mouths of Australia’s conservative politicians. So, Colin and his spouse, Susan, got down to disprove the naysayers, towing their Tucana teardrop van behind a Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary the 1500 km (1000 miles) to Sydney, New South Wales. By comparability, readers may prefer to seek advice from earlier towing tales. Right here’s one about a two-ton boat.

The unique plan was to drive simply from Yeppoon to Brisbane for his or her daughter’s college commencement, then take a look across the northern rivers of NSW. Then they noticed the announcement that the Cybertruck was in Sydney on show for a month. Colin was prepared to attend for the Cybertruck to come back to Brisbane, however Susan arrange a shock. “We obtained impatient and determined to go to Sydney. I’ve had a reservation for 5 years. It was solely a $150 deposit and nicely value it,” Colin tells me.

It took Colin two days to do the drive from Yeppoon to Brisbane (675 km). His regular driving vary (450 km) was halved as a consequence of towing the van. The Tucana van weighs 850 kg. The automobile dealt with the burden simply. Colin collected some stats that can curiosity the technically minded: “The automobile used a mean of 320 wh/km when towing. Usually, with out the van, it makes use of 175 wh/km. The most effective we did with the van on was 260, the worst was 360 wh/km. Not solely have been we towing, however we additionally had a headwind.”

Colin experimented with completely different cruising speeds: “In the future I sat on 90 km per hour for the 200 km stretch. Then the subsequent day I drove at 80 km per hour. I used much less energy at 80 km per hour than I had at 90 km per hour. However in all probability irritated extra individuals.” Colin’s Tesla has a carry package fitted which raises the automobile 40mm and produces extra drag, and in addition has bigger tyres — 235/45 R19.

I requested about charging with a van connected. He instructed me that “I needed to take the van off 75% of the time to cost the automobile.” Was this a little bit of an inconvenient course of? “Effectively, the extra typically you do it, the faster it will get. If nobody else is there, you possibly can park throughout and entry the chargers.” See picture under. Though extra charger stations are being constructed to accommodate EV drivers who tow, there may be nonetheless a little bit of a dearth. Colin instructed me about one he makes use of in Calliope close to Gladstone. This Supercharger has one charger out of 8 allotted for towers. You possibly can drive in forwards — however it’s a must to drive in and again out, however don’t need to disconnect. The opposite 7, it’s a must to reverse in.

As you’d anticipate, Colin and Susan had a variety of fascinating conversations on the charging stations and caravan parks the place they stopped to relaxation and “refill.” At instances, they felt like they have been a “cellular information financial institution.” There was a lot of curiosity from fellow campers. Whereas they have been establishing, individuals came to visit and exclaimed “That’s wonderful you’re towing your van with a Tesla!” or “My daughter/ son has a Tesla, however I didn’t know you could possibly tow!”

As they have been maneuvering their van into place, they needed to be conscious that the curious onlookers couldn’t hear the automobile, and thus needed to take nice care. When Colin request charging at a powered caravan web site, the reply was at all times constructive. He paid from $30 to $67 per evening for a powered web site with no additional cost for plugging within the Tesla.

And the shock? They’d initially solely deliberate to go to Brisbane, however Susan had deliberate a shock. The cat was out of the bag when Steve (TOCA committee member) rang to clarify the viewing protocol for the Cybertruck in Tesla’s Parramatta showrooms in Sydney. It’s onerous to maintain secrets and techniques when the automobile solutions the telephone for you. Susan laments: “Colin at all times finds out when I’ve organised a shock for him!”

Susan and Colin have pushed from Brisbane to Sydney earlier than (it’s about one other 1000 km). “Three years in the past, each different Tesla driver would madly wave to you. Now that Tesla’s are widespread, individuals have stopped doing it. Nonetheless, the motive force of a white Mannequin Y waved, in all probability as a result of he was towing a tandem cage trailer.”

They arrived in Sydney at lunchtime, which meant that “visitors was gentle, so had a superb run navigating with Tesla. Our pals are solely 10 minutes from the showroom at Parramatta.” I requested about their reactions on first seeing the Cybertruck in particular person: “It was identical to going to nighttime membership. Two safety guards stood on both sides and so they registered us on an iPad. There was no lineup as a result of it was the second week of show. A gradual stream of shoppers got here to view the automobile. We spent 2 hours within the showroom completely testing the Cybertruck. I even obtained down and appeared beneath.”

“After all of the hype, I used to be anticipating an enormous monster truck like a RAM or a Silverado. My first thought was, sure, this can slot in my carport and driveway. I used to be anticipating to need to construct a shed simply to suit it in. I’m nonetheless planning to construct a shed, as I solely have lodging for one automobile at house. But it surely gained’t need to be such a giant shed. The Cybertruck on show was set at its highest suspension stage.”

“Sadly, we weren’t allowed within the truck due to an incident within the earlier week. Tesla had restricted entry. There have been about 6–10 individuals across the truck at any time. We had a lot of chats with different clients about what they’re driving. One man was an engineer and was downsizing from two ICE automobiles to at least one EV. Did the mathematics and ended up with two Teslas — 3 and Y. The cash saved made it doable.”

It’s too dangerous Colin and Susan had missed the particular TOCA member occasion by one week after they would have been allowed to enter the truck.

Whereas on the showroom, they took the chance to look at the Mannequin 3 Highland Efficiency mannequin. The Tesla showroom is located within the automobile gross sales district of Parramatta — so Colin checked out different automobile showrooms, particularly Subaru’s. He discovered gross sales employees have been eager and educated in regards to the Solterra EV. Colin has a historical past with Subaru. “My different automobile is an Outback H6 and I’ve owned a WRX and a Forester.”

A drive in Sydney wouldn’t be full with out being rear ended. Colin’s tow bar obtained pushed into the rear of the automobile. The automobile was drivable (the petrol-powered wrongdoer not so), however it made it tough to connect the van. A little bit of bush mechanic work with a hacksaw and so they have been on the highway once more on the return journey to Yeppoon.

Colin and Susan revisited the chargers they’d used on their southern journey, as they knew the place to park to entry them with ease. They travelled at evening and found that Tesla Superchargers are less expensive (39 cents per kWh vs 84 cents per kWh). Our readers might be glad to know that Susan, Colin, the Mannequin 3, and the van made it safely house. The Tesla has been assessed by the insurers and is awaiting repairs at Beau Murphy’s in Rockhampton.