Now that the Tesla Cybertruck is finally making an appearance on the highways around the country, many true truck owners are wondering how versatile this wannabe truck actually is when it comes to real-world activities. Sure, it might fare okay when a daily commute around town is the goal, but what if you really need to use it as a truck?
We found this video of the guys at The Fast Lane Truck putting this “truck” to the test against a diesel-powered mainstay of the trucking world, the Cummins-powered Ram. The guys started by connecting two identical trailers, each weighing 8,000 pounds and stretching 28 feet long. Each toy hauler features an all-aluminum construction with a tongue weight of 1,100 pounds. This wasn’t just a test of power and stamina, it was an electric showdown where they measured not only the range but also the cost of towing with the futuristic Cybertruck versus a classic diesel giant.
Hope you’re not in a hurry to go many miles if you’re towing a trailer.
The Foundation series Tesla Cybertruck has the dual motor option with 600 horsepower and is one of the first models available, priced at a cool $102,000. It comes with an air suspension, four-wheel steering, and a trailer brake controller.
The Ram 2500 has the turbocharged Cummins straight-six, boasting 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque. What more needs to be said? It’s a real truck.
The initial range estimates for the Cybertruck were wildly optimistic, claiming it could travel 318 miles on a full battery. But let’s be honest, that’s more of a fairytale than a real-world number, especially when towing a trailer that’s essentially a giant cinder block on wheels.
On the Road: The Towing Experience
The guys started by setting the cruise control on both vehicles to a steady 70 mph. Despite the Cybertruck’s high-tech features, the side mirrors limited visibility down the sides of the trailer. Meanwhile, the Ram’s extended towing mirrors provided a crystal-clear view around the trailer, showcasing its superiority in design for such tasks. Nobody is laughing at those flipped-up mirrors now, are they?
When it came to acceleration, the guys felt the Cybertruck was like a bullet out of a musket (actually compared it to a SpaceX rocket?). The dual motors provided more than enough oomph to accelerate at any speed, making the Ram’s diesel engine feel almost leisurely. Chalk one up for Cybertruck.
Interestingly, the Cybertruck doesn’t have a dedicated tow mode. However, it employs adaptive regenerative braking, generating a small amount of energy when slowing down. This could be a game-changer, but only if Tesla fine-tunes it to recognize when something big and heavy is hitched to its rear.
Perhaps the most significant hiccup the guys recalled about their adventure was the Cybertruck’s inability to recalculate range based on towing conditions. While towing, and at 56 percent battery, it optimistically suggested 179 miles left—a figure that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, after 43 miles, half the battery was gone.
Faced with the looming threat of battery depletion, they aimed for the nearest supercharging facility at a local Buc-ee’s, about 85 miles into their journey. By the time they rolled in, the Cybertruck’s battery was down to a nail-biting 6-percent. Unlike the Ram, which could roll up to any fuel pump and fill up without a thought, the Cybertruck required them to unhitch the trailer, as it needed to back in to access the chargers.
Cybertruck Charging Costs vs. Diesel Refueling
The Cybertruck accepted electrons at $0.35 per kWh, which means filling up its battery cost $37.45. In contrast, the Ram consumed 8.72 gallons of diesel, tallying up to $25.74. This put the electric marvel at a disadvantage, costing nearly $10 more to cover the same distance.
I am sure there will be readers who will email me and tout the virtues of the Cybertruck, but in this unscientific video test, it’s no surprise when comparing the Ram 2500 Cummins to the woefully inadequate Cybertruck, the Ram remains the unbeatable king for long-haul towing. It’s a classic case of the right tool for the right job.
