Tesla Model 3 passes caravan tow test
Battery-powered sedan proves surprisingly good at towing a lightweight caravanWhile 'range anxiety', higher pricing and a lack of suitable models makes electric-vehicle caravan towing a very rare sight in Australia, that doesn't mean the rest of world isn't getting excited about the prospect of all-electric RV rigs.
We already know the two tonne-plus tow-rated Tesla Model X SUV shapes up as an impressive caravan hauler, but what about its smaller and more affordable Tesla Model 3 sibling?
To find out, a British journalist was recently thrown the keys to a Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD, hitched up to a lightweight Bailey Discovery D4-2 caravan.
The Tesla Model 3 has a towing capacity of close to 1000kg, so the $70,000-odd (starting price in Australia) battery-powered sedan was a good match for the 13ft caravan's unladen weight of 884kg.
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range model also offers a range of up to 657km, but obviously that drops significantly when towing.
So how did it go? On a somewhat hilly 320km return trip to a caravan park, the journo described the rig as "super steady", thanks partly to the tow vehicle's 1844kg kerb weight and a low centre of gravity due to its low-slung battery pack.
With no access to a 'fast charger', the Tesla was plugged into the caravan that was hooked up to mains power at the park, in order to fully recharge the batteries overnight.
However, to run the caravan's hot water and space heater while charging "the number of amps drawn by the car via the Model 3’s screen (were reduced) to 6A (1KW)".
The energy-usage graph on the Tesla's centre screen was also used to help modify driving behavior and avoid coming to a halt before arriving at the next charge-up point.
"Towing at 60mph (95km/h) saw the graph spiral upwards, using much more energy than a 10mph speed increase would suggest.... (but) once (the hill) was crested, the regenerative braking began recharging the battery (and) the range increased," he said.
The journo concluded that based on Tesla Supercharger costs and the predicted range when towing and driving solo, towing the caravan cost 12.4p (about 22 cents) per mile (1.61km), compared to 5.2p per mile solo or an estimated 19p per mile using his own Mercedes Vito tow vehicle.
For the full story watch the video below or click here.
Photos: Bailey of Bristol
Related:
Tesla Model X Tow Test
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