AN EXERCISE IN PATIENCE! ELECTRIC VEHICLE TOWING WITH TODAY’S CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

EV Channels Review

This video documents a challenging towing road trip from Palo Alto, California to Fort Collins, Colorado, with a Rivian R1T hauling a Coda electric car. The primary focus is the strain towing places on EV range and the current state of charging infrastructure. The reviewer highlights the Rivian R1T's capability to tow but emphasizes its significant range reduction when doing so, noting that the estimated range is unreliable under load. Charging experiences were mixed, with some Electrify America stations being unavailable or slow, and the Rivian Adventure Network, while praised for its user experience, is noted for its limited availability and occasional outages. The reviewer experienced significant range anxiety, often arriving at chargers with very little state of charge, necessitating slower driving speeds. Despite the infrastructure challenges and range limitations, the Rivian R1T is presented as a capable, albeit inefficient, towing vehicle, with the reviewer looking forward to future improvements in both vehicle efficiency and charging network expansion.