Tesla Cybertruck Fall Behind In Improved Real-World Towing Test – Again

After the Tesla Cybertruck’s abysmal towing range recently made headlines, Bowlus decided to rerun the towing test, and this time, it took a much more scientific approach, so there would be fewer questions about the results. Bowlus is a luxury camper company for the upper class of society, even specializing in campers specifically made to be towed by EVs.

Last month, CEO Geneva Long made headlines when she revealed the poor performance the Cybertruck offered when towing one of these Bowlus trailers, returning less than half of the claimed range and performing worse than a Model X did 9 years prior. Now she’s back with the results of a second, more thorough test, and things still aren’t looking great for the Cybertruck.

New Test…

As you may recall, last time the test was done, the Cybertruck was towing a Bowlus Volterra trailer which weighs 3,250 lbs in stock form with a GVWR of 4,000 lbs. In a test of 65% highway and 35% rural driving, the Cybertruck was only able to produce 160 miles of range, which is a far cry from the unladen EPA-rated 340 miles of range, and worse than the 235 miles a Model X achieved towing the same trailer nine years prior.

While this is one of those stories that gets people talking, many had questions regarding the test – namely, where, when, and how it was conducted. We all know that terrain and temperature have a massive effect on EVs. Thus, it’s hard to compare the two towing ranges, regardless of the Cybertruck’s obvious technological advancements, so a new test was devised, this time with the help of Eric of the ButterEV YouTube channel.

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This new test pitted a 2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus (100 kWh pack) against a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck AWD Dual Motor Foundation Series (123 kWh pack). Additionally, a 2022 Rivian R1S Launch Edition Quad Motor AWD (135 kWh pack) completed the test on a different day.

The test saw the vehicles pull the trailer at 55 mph with a 600-foot elevation change from Santa Barbara, CA, to Buellton, CA, and back for a total of 103 miles. Each towed a 2024 Bowlus Volterra trailer, which has a length of 27’1″ with a 3,200-lb dry weight.

…Similar Results

We all know that EVs just aren’t there yet when it comes to towing, but we’re still surprised at how the brand-new Cybertruck did. The results saw the Rivian R1S come in first, consuming 554 Wh/mi, producing 1.81 mi/kWh, which equates to a range of 244.4 miles on a single charge. Second place then went to the Model X, which consumed 419 Wh/mi, equating to 2.39 mi/kWh and achieving a range of 238.6 miles on a charge. The Cybertruck was the loser for the second time, consuming 538 Wh/mi, which is 1.86 mi/kWh, and offering just 228.6 miles on a charge.

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It’s important to note the Rivian not only has a larger battery pack but also may have had the benefit of better temperatures on the day of its run, but the Cybertruck’s performance against the Model X is less excusable. Trucks are supposed to be able to tow, that’s one of their primary purposes, yet Tesla’s truck has been beaten twice by its (older) crossover stablemate.

Yes, the Cybertruck weighs more and is less aerodynamic, but it also has a larger battery pack and newer technology underneath. If this is a result of the vehicle’s design, it’s obvious the company made serious performance sacrifices in the name of aesthetics. The question we need to be asking is, does this really matter in a vehicle as outlandish and ungrounded as the Cybertruck?