Could an invention made by Porsche impact EV trucks? That seems like a strange marriage, but stranger things have happened.
Currently, electric trucks offer good towing numbers but awful range issues. This could change if the aerodynamics are worked out; maybe. There’s more at play here than a simple aero solution, but this new invention from Porsche could help electric trucks tow better and add at least a little bit of efficiency to the mix. Let’s dig in and see what this sports car brand has up its proverbial sleeve to help vehicles it doesn’t make.
Porsche Does Make SUVs
Before we get off on a tangent thinking that Porsche is a new do-gooder in the auto world, they do make SUVs. If this company wants their SUV to offer towing capabilities when necessary and hide the ugly towing equipment from view when not in use, they have to come up with a solution. It appears the Porsche team has done just that. Whether or not we’ll see this item on the next generation of Cayenne or Macan SUVs is yet to be determined, but it could happen and might take place much sooner rather than later.
What is the New Invention?
Nearly every automaker is working to create electric vehicles for the future. During this process, aerodynamics becomes a big factor. If an automaker can reduce the amount of drag even slightly, they will. These have brought us items including flush door handles, but a new invention is emerging. This new invention is a disappearing tow hitch, which is being developed by Porsche and could eventually benefit EV trucks. It’s not a secret that the tow hitch of a truck can create drag while dangling out in the rear unused, making one that retracts a beneficial solution.
Patents Are Filed
Porsche has filed patent paperwork in the United States and German for a new multi-part rear diffuser which would minimize the aerodynamic impact of a tow hitch. When the hitch isn’t being used, it stores inside the vehicle, retracted behind the diffuser. This allows an electric vehicle to enjoy the maximum driving range possible and ensures the best aerodynamic ratio for that vehicle. This is the patent filed by Porsche, and it doesn’t seem like something that would benefit their sporty SUVs, but maybe it could be used for a future EV SUV coming from this brand.
What Happens When the Hitch is Needed?
When a driver needs to use the tow hitch, the rear diffuser can be lowered, the hitch pulled out, and the diffuser put back in place around the hitch. This ensures maximum aerodynamics during towing, which can be a serious problem for some drivers. The question we need to answer is whether or not this new hitch system would work for trucks or not. Could Porsche have filed a patent for EV trucks, which they don’t even build? Considering the future electric Macan and Taycan Cross Turismo, this new hitch technology is likely for these two models.
Don’t Forget About the Parent Brand
Porsche is only one brand among many under the Volkswagen Auto Group umbrella. The VW logo shows up on a pickup truck that we don’t see in the United States but is sold in other countries. Of course, the Amarok might not be going electric, but a new Scout EV truck is planned, which could benefit from this new hitch technology. While this new patent could end up being used for trucks and SUVs under the VW umbrella, we need to figure out if it could work for some of the current EV trucks.
The Challenges of an EV Truck
Many electric trucks are pretty bad at towing. Even though the tow ratings are significant, with the Ford F-150 Lightning offering 10,000 pounds and the Rivian R1T coming in at 11,000 pounds, there is a serious problem. This problem isn’t anything new, but it impacts EV trucks more than gas or diesel-powered trucks. The problem is that towing a heavy load reduces the efficiency of the vehicle. There’s no way around this fact at all. If a truck tows a load that weighs more than it does, it’s working pretty hard and will need to burn more fuel to compensate.
Could the Driving Range Improve with this New Invention?
If this new Porsche invention is applied to EV trucks, the changes while towing won’t involve the tow hitch but the rear diffuser. Most trucks don’t have a diffuser in the rear because drivers want the ground clearance for off-roading. A truck fitted with the diffuser and the new retractable tow hitch might benefit from better aerodynamics, but this doesn’t change the fact that towing a heavy load requires the vehicle to burn more fuel, thus reducing the driving range.
Its not the Range, it’s the Charging Time
The greatest difference between EV trucks and gas or diesel models isn’t so much the reduction of driving range while towing but the time it takes to refuel. A gasoline-powered pickup truck can be refilled in a matter of minutes, while an EV truck takes overnight while plugged into a Level 2 charger. Even if an EV owner uses a DC Fast Charging connection, the charging time is much longer than what it takes to refill a gas or diesel tank. This time loss is the greatest challenge faced by EV trucks meant for towing.
One More Concern with a Retractable Tow Hitch
Adding more moving parts often means something must be given up. Would an EV truck with this new Porsche invention actually tow as much as one without it? Could the retractable nature of this tow hitch cause a reduction in the towing capacity of trucks? It’s possible Porsche is making this item for the EV SUVs they offer, which means they aren’t looking at 10,000 pounds of towing but a much smaller number. That means this new hitch might not be good for the EV truck market at all.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
