Towing Experience 2025 PowerBoost

[turbopilot]

I just completed a 3,000 mile grand tour of the Rocky Mountain West from Arizona to the Canadian border with my 2025 PowerBoost with 7.2 PPoB pulling a 2022 25' Electric GlobeTrotter Airstream trailer. During this trip made up of a combination of two lane highways, interstate highways and mountain passes over 11,000', the 2025 PowerBoost had a cumulative milage of 12.4 MPG while targeting a speed of 62 MPH.

But of more interest is that the PowerBoost was connected to the Airstream via an umbilical supplying between .4kW to 3kW of electricity while in motion. The power supplied to the Airstream while in motion was charging the batteries, heating the hot water and most importantly supporting the Airstream air conditioners. So while we experienced outside air temperatures in excess of 100F during the trip, the Airstream was always around 75F while in motion.

But the big surprise is that I could not discern any real change in the MPG performance of the 2025 PowerBoost while supplying up to 3kW of electricity to the Airstream in motion. You don't generate electricity for free, so there has to be some kind of performance hit to running PPoB at high outputs in motion, but tank to tank I did not appreciate any significant change to MPG performance that varied by load place on the PPoB generator. It may be that the excess regenerative braking pulling the Airstream may be getting harvested by the PPoB generator in motion limiting fuel consumption to support the generator.

On balance, my 2025 PowerBoost does seem to yield about 1 MPG better fuel economy than my 2023 PowerBoost pulling the same load.

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[Gros Ventre]

With an Escape Hybrid towing a 5x8 U-Haul trailer I noted slightly better MPG when in rolling and hilly terrain. I attribute this to the momentum effect when descending. The heavier load just gave more of a lasting push with the engine off.

 

[turbopilot]

With an Escape Hybrid towing a 5x8 U-Haul trailer I noted slightly better MPG when in rolling and hilly terrain. I attribute this to the momentum effect when descending. The heavier load just gave more of a lasting push with the engine off.

I have confirmed in "Tow/Haul" mode depending speed and terrain the high voltage battery can quickly hit the maximum allowable SOC towing a heavy load. Any time that happens regenerative braking stops yielding to friction braking and engine braking. So anytime PPoB is drawing current from the high voltage battery and that battery is at a "full SOC" (no more than 70% SOC), then any current supplied to PPOB from the traction motor/high voltage battery is going to be "free". Free meaning fuel is not consumed to make the electricity.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Yes, the point is that the truck has an inherent amount of momentum to convert into electricity. When towing that amount is greater. Since when climbing a hill you drain some of the HVB you the convert the down hill into even more power. As to the high limit on the HVB that is there. Still, my experience showed better MPG when towing than when on flat land. I see that effect driving around Denver, CO with my truck. Since there is alot of rolling hills there, the MPG goes up a bit just with around town driving.

 

[Snakebitten]

@turbopilot

Can I ask..... How many miles did you have on the 23 when you swapped?
Similar to when you swapped your 2021 for the 2023? (consistent?)

Here's to hoping your 4th "electrified" tow truck is more advanced than the first one than the 3rd one is. ?

(it's amazing that the 5 year old Powerboost is still the only one in the specific space that has you driving a 3rd one)

 

[turbopilot]

@turbopilot

Can I ask..... How many miles did you have on the 23 when you swapped?
Similar to when you swapped your 2021 for the 2023? (consistent?)

Here's to hoping your 4th "electrified" tow truck is more advanced than the first one than the 3rd one is. ?

(it's amazing that the 5 year old Powerboost is still the only one in the specific space that has you driving a 3rd one)

.
30K most of the miles towing. No other truck right now that can check all the boxes. Constant towing takes a toll. This 2025 is really nice with all sorts of subtle new features. And it handles a 7,300lb trailer with ease.

 

[OldCrowEW]

uh... i have the same rig/towable. would you mind sharing how you are doing this in motion? id be really interested to see your setup!

 

[turbopilot]

i have the same rig/towable. would you mind sharing how you are doing this in motion? id be really interested to see your setup!

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/electric-globetrotter-229144-6.html#post2570632

 

[Snakebitten]

uh... i have the same rig/towable. would you mind sharing how you are doing this in motion? id be really interested to see your setup!

Caution!

That rig/setup is enticing

His approach is a relentless pursuit of addressing any and every solution desired.

I'm not an Airstreemer (have come close a couple of times), but I HAVE had seeds planted from his thread that influenced. One example is I am rarely ever in a rig without Starlink. That was 100% his doing.

 

[Snakebitten]

Duplicate

 

[Snakebitten]

Wow. Triple post

The Webserver has really been glitzy lately

 

[EricR]

For anyone interested, here is how I feed 120 Volts to our Lance 2185 travel trailer - while running down the road.

The write up is from fall 2021 and everything still works well, as originally built.

Also in my write up is a link to the mods done to the trailer's 12 volt system. This includes two 105 Amp Hour lithium batteries and a 60 Amp charger.

 

[OldCrowEW]

I work remotely

Caution!

That rig/setup is enticing

His approach is a relentless pursuit of addressing any and every solution desired.

I'm not an Airstreemer (have come close a couple of times), but I HAVE had seeds planted from his thread that influenced. One example is I am rarely ever in a rig without Starlink. That was 100% his doing.

I work remotely... I definitely have Starlink for boondocking ?

 

[turbopilot]

That rig/setup is enticing

I have to admit it is a nice system. Something about the electrical integration between the PowerBoost and Airstream that is so satisfying. Given that the PowerBoost is now well into its 4th year I am surprised someone has not started a business to convert any brand of trailer and a PowerBoost into an integrated system. When you consider the cost of a PowerBoost and a trailer an integrated solution is economically very competitive with some of the Sprinter van RV's conversions but so much more versatile because it comes with a "TOAD" (ie the PowerBoost) and more livable square feet in a 25' trailer.

 

[OldCrowEW]

I have to admit it is a nice system. Something about the electrical integration between the PowerBoost and Airstream that is so satisfying. Given that the PowerBoost is now well into its 4th year I am surprised someone has not started a business to convert any brand of trailer and a PowerBoost into an integrated system. When you consider the cost of a PowerBoost and a trailer an integrated solution is economically very competitive with some of the Sprinter van RV's conversions but so much more versatile because it comes with a "TOAD" (ie the PowerBoost) and more livable square feet in a 25' trailer.

I agree. I had considered an onboard generator with a jenRAK (which is very nice!) and a DC to DC charger.. but Ive put those on hold now that I have the PB.

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