@Blackstone ... Cybertruck beats Rivian in this regard. The R1T only has 120 volt outlets in the bed. One of my biggest fears (on high mileage travel days) is decoupling the trailer if my only available option is an Electrify America at a Walmart. I'm thinking I'll become very versed, very quickly on where the pull-through DCFC's are and only use those.
Putting the Cybertruck into my test cases. I think my overall conclusions hold, but the Cybertruck does deliver some advantages because of the 240 volt capability in the bed. I'm not across the Cybertruck capability, but I'm assuming the 240 volt in the bed is akin to Level 2 charging, or in other words, what you'd reasonably expect from an EVSE at campsite. Crucially, it's not Level 3, or DCFC.
On to my test cases (and I added one for transit scenarios):
1. Abundant, concurrent charging at destination, i.e., multiple pedestals / EVSEs, no load constraints
Play: Bias to travel speed. Use TrekDrive aggressively. Spend Lightship energy freely (respecting CER).
Why: Energy is liquid, speed/time can safely dominate.
Cybertruck advantage: n/a
2. Limited charging at destination, i.e., one pedestal or shared power
Play: Use TrekDrive. Arrive with R1T SOC higher than Lightship SOC, while respecting CER.
Why: A charged truck keeps options open, a charged trailer doesn’t.
Cybertruck advantage: Mild convenience advantage, i.e., you can plug in Cybertruck - or - Lightship and daisy chain to the other vehicle. I only have Lightship to R1T as an option, you are bi-directional.
3. No charging at destination (boondocking)
Play: Use TrekDrive until Lightship approaches CER. Preserve CER and as much R1T SOC as possible.
Why: Lightship can slowly recharge via solar, the truck is irreplaceable.
Cybertruck advantage: High convenience advantage, energy is now liquid as you can use the Cybertruck refill the Lightship, whereas I cannot do that with the R1T.
4. In transit charging
Cybertruck advantage: Medium convenience advantage. You can charge the Cybertruck on DCFC and the Lightship via daisy chain via Level 2 charging from the Cybertruck bed without decoupling. I think the issue here is the negligible SOC benefit you'd get from a 30 to 60 minute DCFC stop.
We're obviously brainstorming these scenarios, and these are my early views. If you see a hole in my logic I'll go back to token-blitzing my AI helper to get a better answer!
