On: Towing a Tesla at 70 MPH replenishes battery at fast charger rates

[Gustomaximus]

> A base model Toyota Tacoma isn't even rated to tow that weight

Isnt this rating more about supporting and breaking force for the combined vehicle and load weight.

My understanding in this case tow means 'pull the vehicle' vs carry the front weight. So I think even a smaller car would be fine to pull a Tesla.

[throwaway0a5e → Gustomaximus]

>Isnt this rating more about supporting and breaking force for the combined vehicle and load weight.

There are braking requirements in the test but the bottleneck is almost always (i.e. I want to say always but I don't put it past Dodge to show up with a 700hp vehicle) the acceleration and minimum speed up a grade portions of the test. Given the weight that can be accelerated and pulled up a grade per the test requirements basically every vehicle winds up passing the braking portion with room to spare.

But if you get all your vehicle performance advice on Reddit and HN I can see why you'd think brakes are always the bottleneck.

[dahfizz → Gustomaximus]

Being able to safely break is part of the towing test, as well as being able to haul the load up hill at highway speed.

The point is that an average sedan absolutely does not have the power to tow 4,000 pounds, let alone 4,000 pounds with it's breaks on.