Would you buy this vehicle to be towed?

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penman39

penman39

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Joined
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Sarver, PA
Electric vehicles will become more prevalent in the near future. With some simple software programming these vehicles could be made to assist in braking by regeneration which would charge the battery. On climbing hills they could negate their tow weight and assist with power if needed all the while charging its battery any time it goes downhill or on flat land if needed. It could be the ideal tow vehicle for RV'ers.

It will only happen if the industry feels there is a market for it. Would you consider a electric powered toad vehicle if it was that versatile??

Put me down for a yes!
 
Electric makes sense today IF your a commuter and IF your commute is within the distance an electric vehicle will survive. An electric toad makes little to no sense. Think for a bit. Where are you going to charge it? Where are all these charging stations going to come from? Big question. Where the h÷)) do you expect to get all this electricity? Heck states like California can't even supply reliable power to its citizens now. Zell EV be viable in the future? Probably, but sure not in my lifetime.
 
donn said:
An electric toad makes little to no sense. Think for a bit. Where are you going to charge it? Where are all these charging stations going to come from? Big question. Where the h÷)) do you expect to get all this electricity? Heck states like California can't even supply reliable power to its citizens now. Zell EV be viable in the future? Probably, but sure not in my lifetime.
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It can charge while it is being towed if so programmed. You can plug it in at your campsite if it's not fully charged or your MH's generator if boondocking
 
donn said:
Electric makes sense today IF your a commuter and IF your commute is within the distance an electric vehicle will survive. An electric toad makes little to no sense. Think for a bit. Where are you going to charge it? Where are all these charging stations going to come from? Big question. Where the h÷)) do you expect to get all this electricity? Heck states like California can't even supply reliable power to its citizens now. Zell EV be viable in the future? Probably, but sure not in my lifetime.
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Where are you going to charge it? Maybe at the tens of thousands of EV charge locations around the continent. Or even the campground. We have towed an EV on a trailer behind our Motorhome for 5 years. Charging is not an issue...AT ALL...EVER
 
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donn has a good point. Where is the power for the charging stations going to come from? Polluting, resorce depleting coal fired generating stations? Windmills and solar farms. Maybe dam more rivers destroying millions of acres of wilderness and wildlife habitat. There is no free lunch, there is a price to be paid for any energy source. I saw a picture of a charging station charged by a diesel genset, now there's energy conservation for ya.
 
There are times right now that I am maxing the power at RV park, I don't see a EV in my future. When we are boondocking silence is golden, to run the genset so we can take a ride does not sit well either.
 
silversport said:
There are times right now that I am maxing the power at RV park, I don't see a EV in my future. When we are boondocking silence is golden, to run the genset so we can take a ride does not sit well either.
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Most EV manufacturers don’t allow 4 wheel towing. But a couple do. Both Rivian and Lourdstown indicate their products will be 4 down towable.

As well, some are pulling Nissan Leafs on tow dollys. We are considering this.
 
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Something to think about for sure. I'm not sure on the laws regarding towed vehicles though. Pretty sure they can be braked, but not powered, i.e. should not be providing assist?

I don't think this is the thread where we will solve the nation's power grid problems. It's true, many RV parks do not have the infrastructure to provide service to RV's and also charge vehicles. And not all power is clean and without environmental consequence. But that also does not make the case for continuing the production of ICE vehicles for eternity.

Can I envision people towing an electric vehicle that has maybe 200 miles of range and using it as an occasional runabout during a shorter (i.e. not months long) RV trip? Absolutely. Charge it before you leave home, plug it in when you return.
 
Roy M said:
donn has a good point. Where is the power for the charging stations going to come from? Polluting, resorce depleting coal fired generating stations? Windmills and solar farms. Maybe dam more rivers destroying millions of acres of wilderness and wildlife habitat. There is no free lunch, there is a price to be paid for any energy source. I saw a picture of a charging station charged by a diesel genset, now there's energy conservation for ya.
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I have that picture as well. . I believe you will see that company market those (prototype right now) for emergency corridor evacuation routes. Kinda cool.
Skookum said:
Something to think about for sure. I'm not sure on the laws regarding towed vehicles though. Pretty sure they can be braked, but not powered, i.e. should not be providing assist?

I don't think this is the thread where we will solve the nation's power grid problems. It's true, many RV parks do not have the infrastructure to provide service to RV's and also charge vehicles. And not all power is clean and without environmental consequence. But that also does not make the case for continuing the production of ICE vehicles for eternity.

Can I envision people towing an electric vehicle that has maybe 200 miles of range and using it as an occasional runabout during a shorter (i.e. not months long) RV trip? Absolutely. Charge it before you leave home, plug it in when you return.
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Although understandable, I don’t think RVers realize how many and how ubiquitous EV chargers are becoming out there. It is simply not hard to find charging facilities or charging opportunities to charge electric vehicles. 6 Years ago when we bought our first EV it was a little harder. Nowadays it’s just not an issue.

Jmho.
 
Skookum said:
Can I envision people towing an electric vehicle that has maybe 200 miles of range and using it as an occasional runabout during a shorter (i.e. not months long) RV trip? Absolutely. Charge it before you leave home, plug it in when you return.
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That makes sense to me as well, and I foresee it as common when & if towable EVs become available.

Longtime or fulltime RVers would have to charge at campgrounds or public charge stations (when available), but even so I think an EV will often be practical. When we traveled 5-6 months a year, our typical toad driving mileage was 20-50 miles, so a 200 mile EV range would be several days worth of driving in most cases. And overnight slow (level 1) charging in a full hook-up campground ought to be reasonable. Boondocking or limited-power campgrounds is probably a different situation.
 
We have a Tesla, which we will be towing in a HaulMark enclosed trailer. I wish Tesla would follow the lead that Rivian appears to be taking about towing 4 down. If Rivian had been producing cars a year ago, I would have seriously considered one of their vehicles. There are several RV'rs who are now towing Teslas on trailers.
 
K
Chet18013 said:
We have a Tesla, which we will be towing in a HaulMark enclosed trailer. I wish Tesla would follow the lead that Rivian appears to be taking about towing 4 down. If Rivian had been producing cars a year ago, I would have seriously considered one of their vehicles. There are several RV'rs who are now towing Teslas on trailers.
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Saw a rig with Alberta plates towing a fairly low slung open trailer carrying a model 3 AWD P. He had a nice setup on the front presumably to prevent rocks from hitting the front end as well as carrying what looked like a shelter for electric bikes. Same colour as our blue model 3 AWD. Nice setup. My guess is he was heading for the island. Nice
 
I think the OP's question is an interesting one to ponder. It wasn't a proclamation that EV's are the best thing since sliced bread but alas, the conversation quickly turned to the negative/debate as has every other recent EV post. What a great concept - a toad that charges itself en-route, provides a boost uphill, and supplemental braking downhill. Who knows what the future will hold? My wife's first cell phone barely fit in her purse and was more of a burden than a benefit...now it's a pocket-sized, portable computer and can be charged wirelessly.
 
What my friends with Tesla's are telling me is that the concept is fine but the car part has a problem with falling apart often.. And I am struck by the number of Tesla's you can find on used car lots.>>>Dan
 
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I would happily buy a hybrid today if I knew of one in my price point and "looked" like something I wanted to drive. I am not there yet at all on EVs for a lot of reasons. They make complete and total sense as an urban commuter. They are clearly evolving.

I agree about all the Debbie Downer stuff that pops up on EV discussions. At least appreciate the possibilities and the technology journey.

It's interesting to talk about EVs in context of RV-ing but clearly there are a lot of different profiles of RV person and it's a relatively small market to "cater to" and "design for"

EVs clearly have to be a more "go to" solution for middle class working folks first.
 
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