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Comment by m463

7 years ago

I suspect the electric motors will - in practical terms - tow vastly more than gas or diesel trucks.

and they will get the energy back going downhill.

24 comments

m463

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sawjet  7 years ago

It will ultimately be limited by it's cooling, as all Teslas have been. Can it manage long, steep grades while towing? Downhill, ICE motors can be driven by the wheels to preserve both fuel and brakes.

  • kube-system  7 years ago

    If regenerative braking is good enough technology for trains, it ought to be good enough of a technology for a light truck.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_braking

    • arghwhat  7 years ago

      Note that trains are a very different scenario due to not being battery powered.

      Many (most?) trains dump excess charge into the grid, meaning that it has no limitations on brake power nor capacity.

      Battery-powered vehicles have to protect their battery, limiting brake power to keep the battery cool, and brake duration as it cannot overcharge the battery.

      To compete with a train, a battery powered vehicle would need to implement rheostatic braking (i.e. brake resistors).

      Of course, conventional engine braking is not worth comparing to any of this, but I thought it was important to emphasize that trains ≠ cars.

      9 replies →

  • arghwhat  7 years ago

    Engine braking with ICE is practical, but is pretty much pointless to compare with regenerative braking capabilities of an electric motor.

    Not only does regenerative braking recharge the battery, it is possible to apply entirely arbitrary reverse torque should need be, where an ICE has a pretty fixed resistance.