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Nothing could possibly go wrong
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this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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My question is, "Why?"
Most of the time, including in the picture from this article, people would be towing something like a camper. To go camping. In a remote area. Which has no WiFi to begin with.
For generations, a hitch has been a sufficient tool for towing shit. I guess its simplicity just doesn't allow enough avenues to monopolize from. I can't possibly think of how Wi-Fi towing solves more problems than it causes, other than charging the consumer for shit they don't actually need.
The theoretical use case is for cars without the capacity to tow. Either due to engine power, or lack of a tow ball. Effectively, it's a small, self driving vehicle, that can tow. It just follows close behind your care, and so needs far less in the way of navigation capabilities.
It's a stupidly small niche however. Anyone who could justify and afford one could do far better just by hiring a driver and tow vehicle.
I tow a lot with an EV and when towing my miles per kWh halve.
For EVs this fixes this range problem as you are no longer towing. Improving range while towing is important for people who tow a lot with EVs becoming more prevalent.
However you now have to charge the trailer and the car, which is a right pain.
Plus relying on wireless connection is just massively dumb.
There are trailers coming that conventionally hitch and have their own motor and battery. This improves range but now your trailer is massively heavier, more expensive, and requires its own charging.
Majority of EV public chargers are just not setup for pull through charging so you have to unhitch. Just painful even with motormovers to move the trailer off the car.
We should be working to reduce drag as this is the biggest issue for the trailer at motorway speeds, and then weight.
it doesn't solve it though, it just adds a second vehicle to the mix that can actually do the job. this is literally just a truck but worse, because now you need a car in front to carry passengers and steer this goofy thing. just rent a truck for the day and leave the car at home
Yeah no truck can fit another full sized car in the truck bed or something of similar size. In Europe you cannot even get something the size of a F150 let alone the really big trucks.
sure, but my point was the car is unnecessary in this scenario. you're already renting another vehicle to tow the trailer, get one with a drivers seat and passenger compartment instead of using 2 vehicles to move 1 trailer
Well you weren't in what I meant with my example, you already have a car, just get a tow bar fitted to it then you can use a trailer any time you need one. While its not suitable for everyone Its a really good idea if you are doing even irregular house maintenance or other big jobs and a trailer by itself is massively cheaper than hiring a truck.I can hire a trailer big enough to put a car on for £80 for 24 hours.
Agreed, if your car can do the job that's clearly the most sensible option. But either scenario this goofy robot solves nothing. Either your car can pull the trailer itself, or it should be left at home while you rent something that can. Deliberately renting a robot truck with no seats that forces you to also bring a car would be silly