This story in two parts:
This is what happens when you stop teaching basic physics to people.
Force = mass x acceleration
If you increase the amount of mass of a vehicle, it takes more force to accelerate it.
That force has to come from somewhere, in the case of the Tesla S, its battery power.
Throw in added wind resistance from the trailer and BOOM, range drops.
Anybody with a truck who has ever towed anything knows that milage goes down when you tow.
Apparently, this Tesla driver has no towing experience, understanding of physics, or general common sense.
I would put money on this person being all for the Green New Deal, electric cars being mandatory, and all that other stuff. Because only someone who lacks any sort of common sense and somehow believes batteries are magic that gives the same range regardless of load could believe in bullshit like that.
More likely they couldn’t comprehend that charging stations were not as common elsewhere as they were where they lived. A failure of planing due to simple lack of research. If they researched a little they would’ve realize there are places in New Mexico where you can go 180 miles between gas stations let alone electric car charging stations. They may have failed in Arizona\New Mexico but they would have faced a similar failure in just about any rural state where there are only a few large cities that would have such car chargers. One might be able to drive cross country in a Tesla that had a 324 mile charge range if they planned their drive exceedingly well, there’s definitely no chance of that with only 120 mile range without a solar panel charger kit or some such.
P.S. A chronicling of someone attempting a cross country trip in a electric vehicle with trailer using a portable solar charger would be interesting to follow. Kind of like a modern wagon train journal.
Well, there was that car that was taken cross-country non-stop in the 60s. They did get refueled while in transit, so perhaps a rolling charging vehicle could pull along side…. ?
I thought of wagon trains and all the stuff like pianos that got left on the side of the trail when I read this.
At first I thought the trailer was to carry a generator and gas.
This is what I pictured. (I know, I am dating myself)
https://thefw.com/files/2013/01/You-Have-Died-of-Dystentery.jpg
The Oregon Trail – Official Trailer
Could be they ARE that stupid… well he bought a tesla.. THATs kinda a big clue right there
Having driven a Pickup with lousy gas mileage across New Mexico, I can assure you that ordinary gas stations are thin on the ground in parts of that state. At least I could carry a 5 gallon jerry can to get me through if I ran the tank dry. I don’t think Tesla makes a portable jerry can sized container of electrons in case you run out of charge in the middle of the desert.
This is why the F150 towing package comes with a 36 gallon fuel tank. My mileage goes from 20, down to 8 or 12 mpg when towing.
People don’t think physics be like it is, but it do. Stuff like this is why I’ve always carried an extra 5-10 gallons of fuel in a Jerry can when towing long distances or through areas unknown to me. Mileage goes out the window and all of my vehicles have had 150-ish mile range (old 1/2 tons with carbs, crossovers and mid-size trucks with tiny tanks compared to an F-150 Max Tow package equipped truck).
Someone should find that shipment of goods going to Miami and refuse it entry at the state line, it’s clear this guy won’t be a value add to Florida.
Y’know, while I don’t know where they started from, about 50 – 100 miles out they would have noticed the significantly reduced range.
Given that, you’d think they’d have realized they had a range problem, and at least started looking ahead for charge stations etc. There are even one or two in my adopted NM hometown; but they are not everywhere, and that’s true not only in NM but along much of their likely route.
I see their having to get towed, as resulting not so much a lack of knowledge of physics (although there is that), but as a lack of understanding of cause-and-effect and a complete lack of ability to observe an effect, extrapolate its impact on one’s self, and plan accordingly. Honestly, that’s scarier in terms of societal survival.
Do the have Whole Foods in New Mexico? You can charge a Tesla at a Whole Foods.
Yes in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, not sure about the rest of the state.
SH*T! He is coming over here??? DAMN IT!
Notice, instead of saying, “Wow, I screwed up” they attempt to blame Elon Musk for not having charging stations everywhere they might need one.
At 124 mile range, they would have to charge at least 22 times to get from San Diego to Miami, at one hour each charge (if they are at the highest power chargers.) Until they can get the battery charging time to equal the time it takes to fill with gasoline, electric vehicles will remain short trip vehicles.
In looking at the Supercharger map, the longest stretch on I-10 is 131 miles from Wilcox to Deming. Slow down 5 mph, turn off the climate control, and stretch your mileage a tad.
Crying because you didn’t plan a long trip means you are unable to manage your own life.
“Crying because you didn’t plan a long trip means you are unable to manage your own life.”
This. Exactly.
It’s easy to drive across the country in a Tesla. At 120 mile range it gets harder but it looks like it can still be done. It does require paying attention to what the navigation system tells you. If you just putter along fat dumb & happy, it won’t work right.
Another smug DemonKKKrat dbag bailing from the People’s Republik of Commiefornia, that they screwed up, and moving here to the ruin of all.
They’re worse than the freaking ChiComFlu. SMH
We need a vaccine to keep those socialist a-holes from Newyorkistan and Commiefornia out of our state.
My kids asked me about electric cars (I am an electrician (Marine) but I drive an F150). My answer has always been: 1 – If I were worried about the cost of gas, I wouldn’t drive a truck. 2 – Until you can give me an electric car that can carry a load from Norfolk to Atlanta with at most one recharge in less than ten hours, it is not worth the cost. They stopped asking a while back. . .
Its not rocket science, anyone who has towed a trailer knows it takes more fuel I guess Tesla drivers are precious
Heh. Think that’s bad, just wait until a mandatory evacuation and he’s stuck in Jersey-Turnpike-like gridlock.
Have had this discussion on other websites, and always the idiots from Europe who don’t understand how vast Florida is, let alone the rest of the nation, talk about their wonderful electric cars.
Hahahahahaha.
Idiots.
On “Top Gear” Clarkson drove from the western-most to the eastern-most points of England during the longest night of the year. His biggest problem in finishing before sunrise was construction around London, AFAICR.
I would LOVE to see their reaction once they get east of El Paso on Interstate 10…
250 miles of nothing but miles.
Ha hah…what’d he get? a day or two out?
Still plenty of time for misery. Hopefully it won’t ignite.
I pray this fool has no involvement in general aviation. They most certainly would auger in with poor weight and balance and fuel calcs.