Pebble Flow: Tow with more confidence

In my previous trips towing the Pebble Flow with the Cybertruck, most of the roads were smooth highways, with just a few short mountain sections. Thanks to Pebble Flow’s powered assist motors, after over 3,000 miles on the road, I can confidently say this: the Cybertruck can tow two miles for every one percent of battery—no problem at all. I’m totally confident about that.

But what about mountain driving?
Last weekend, I went camping with friends at Mammoth Lakes. From San Jose, the fastest route is Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park, then connecting to Highway 395 all the way to Mammoth Lakes. The highest point on Highway 120 is Tioga Pass—9,943 feet above sea level. From San Jose to the top, that’s about 9,500 feet of elevation gain over 215 miles. I stopped once to charge in Groveland.
In total, I used 186.5 kWh, averaging 1.117 kWh per mile. That’s actually really good! Even while towing the Pebble Flow up the mountains, the energy use stayed totally reasonable—pretty much living up to Pebble’s “no range lost” promise.

Now, guess how much energy the Pebble Flow itself used on that trip?
From San Jose to Mammoth Lakes—about 254 miles—it used less than 60% of its battery, around 25 kWh total! Crazy, right? Sounds impossible?
With the old firmware, it would’ve been impossible. Before, Pebble Flow used around 150 Wh per mile, so that same 254-mile trip would’ve taken at least 37 kWh, not counting the massive 9,500-foot climb.

So why did it only use 25 kWh this time?
Here’s the secret: Pebble just rolled out a new firmware update in October that allows recharging even in Easy Tow mode! That means when you slow down, brake, or go downhill, Pebble Flow now regenerates power—just like an EV motor.

This update is a huge deal. It doesn’t necessarily make the Cybertruck tow farther, but it means that when I arrive at the campsite, the Pebble Flow still has plenty of power left for camping in comfort.

For details of trips, please refer

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cXa3Lee68YCp7o5bpmiqcuhF83qx3xc-U9VffgVdD9g/edit?gid=1028497542#gid=1028497542

之前幾次用 Cybertruck 拖 Pebble Flow 去旅行，雖然會有點小山路，但距離不長，大部份的行程還是在平穩的高速公路上行駛。得利於 Pebble Flow 的自動輔助馬達，經過超過三千英里的旅程，我可以很肯定的說，Cybertruck用1%的電，跑(拖) 2 英里是完全沒有問題的！我信心滿滿！

那在山路上的表現如何呢？週末跟朋友約在 Mammonth Lakes 露營，從 San Jose 出發，最快的路徑是走 120 號公路，穿越整個 Yosemite 國家公園，接上 395 號公路，抵達 Mammoth Lakes。120號公路的最高點是在 Tioga Pass (9943 英尺)，從 San Jose 出發，到達 Tioga Pass 總爬升約在 9500 英尺，行駛距離約 215 英里，中途在 Groveland 充電一次。總耗電量為 186.5 kWh，平均每一英里耗電 1117 kWh。從數據上來看，拖著 Pebble Flow，電耗並沒有明顯的超量使用，符合 no range lost 的承諾。

那你猜猜 Pebble Flow 自己本身耗了多少電？全程從 San Jose 到 Mammoth Lakes，254英里，電耗不到60%，約 25 kWh的電！！很誇張吧！不可能？如果以舊版 firmware 來說，的確不可能，照之前的測試，Pebble Flow 一般路況下，每英里電耗約 150 Wh，254 英里少說也要 37kWh 的電量，更何況要爬升 9500 英尺，電力消耗肯定會超大的。但為什麼反而只用了約 25 kWh 的電呢？細節就在於，Pebble 十月推送了新版本的 firmware，讓在 Easy Tow 的模式下也能 recharge 它的電池。也就是當在減速、煞車或下坡的時候，像一般電車的馬達一樣，Pebble 也會靠慣性的力量來回充電池電力了！這個更新太重要了！這雖然不能讓 Cybertruck 拖得更遠，但我更有信心，在抵達營地時，Pebble Flow 仍保有足夠的電力，能讓我舒舒服服的露營！

Pebble Flow: Life and work balance

Being able to travel, explore, and still get work done—that’s one of my American dreams. To move freely from one scenic spot to another while still having a comfortable workspace, an RV really is the only choice. That’s why the setup inside the RV matters so much. Personally, I don’t like huge RVs. Since I usually travel solo, or sometimes with just one other person, a 25-foot RV is plenty of space. It’s like a small studio apartment on wheels—with a living and dining area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bed. But then the big question is: where do you actually work?

Pebble Flow has the perfect solution—a convertible desk/bed combo! When it’s not bedtime, the bed frame flips up into an extra-long desk, perfect for working on a laptop, writing, or reading. When you’re not working, the back of the bed frame doubles as a flat fabric screen, so you can use it as a projector screen and relax with a movie. This design gives you the best of both worlds—a balance between travel and work. You can stay productive on the road, while still enjoying the beautiful views right outside your window.

能夠邊遊山玩水邊工作賺錢，是我的美國之一。要能自由的在各個景點移動，還要有個舒適且能方工作的環境，露營車是唯一的選擇。那麼露營車裡的配置和機能就很重要，我不喜歡很大台的露營車，因為我幾乎都是獨旅比較多，就算是兩人旅遊，長度25英尺的露營車，空間上應該就很足夠了。露營車裡就像一間小套房，有起居用餐區、廚房、浴室和睡覺的地方，那要在什麼地方工作上班？

Pebble Flow 提供了一個完美的解決方案 - 可變式辨公桌/床組組合！不睡覺時，可以把床架立起來，變成一個超長的辨公桌面，不論是打電腦或是書寫閱讀都很適合。不工作時，立起來的床底是平坦的布面，可以拿來當成投影布幕，看個影片休閒一下。這樣的設計，讓你在旅遊和工作間，達到一個完美的平衡。旅遊時兼顧工作，工作時又能享受窗外漂亮的風景。

Pebble Flow: Camp with connivence

When it comes to RV trips, range anxiety isn’t the only pain point. Once you get to the campsite, there’s a whole checklist: backing up into the right spot, leveling the trailer, dropping the stabilizer jacks on all four corners—just to make living inside comfortable. It sounds simple, but in reality, it’s pretty tedious. Honestly, it can take up to half an hour just to get everything set up. I even made a video before, walking through the entire camping setup process.

Pebble Flow makes this part so much easier with features like Remote Control and InstaCamp. With Remote Control, you can use the included iPad and app to drive and position the Pebble Flow exactly where you want—no tow vehicle needed. And InstaCamp? That’s a true game-changer. With just one tap, it automatically levels the trailer and drops the stabilizers. No more exhausting setup after a long drive. You can just roll in, press a button, and start enjoying your camping trip right away.

露營車旅行的痛點，不只有里程焦慮的問題，到了露營地，從倒車到適當的位置、平衡車身保持水平，放下身底四個角落的穩定支架，住在露營車裡時更舒服；這些動作看似簡單，但非常的繁鎖，往往需要花上半個小時才能完全搞定。我之前還特地拍了一支影片，說明整個露營車札營的步驟和過程。

針對倒車和車身定位，Pebble Flow 也提供了鬆的解決方案，平板搖控 Remote Control 和立即札營 InstaCamp。平板搖控是透過 Pebble Flow 隨車配備的 iPad 平板，使用它的 App 來直接控制 Pebble Flow 的行動，無需接上前拖車，就能自由地把 Pebble Flow 停放到你想要的位置。而 InstaCamp 更是一個按鍵就搞定車身的水平和穩定的問題！沒有了札營繁鎖的過程，讓你在漫長行駛抵達目的地後，能立刻輕鬆地使用 Pebble Flow，享受露營的美好時光。

Pebble Flow: Tow with confidence

Towing a travel trailer with a Cybertruck really gives you serious range anxiety. Getting around 120 miles on a full charge is already considered pretty good. But honestly, with gas trucks, towing usually cuts the range almost in half. The difference is, gas trucks have big fuel tanks. For example, my old Ford F-150 had a 36-gallon extended tank. At about 10 miles per gallon while towing, I could still go 360 miles—and with gas stations everywhere, range was never really a problem.

That’s exactly where the Pebble Flow changes the game. It solves a lot of the pain points of camping with travel trailer. Its key feature is “Active Tow Assist.” Pebble Flow has a 45 kWh battery and dual motors in its wheels. When you tow it, it actually pushes itself forward, reducing the load on the tow vehicle. On a road trip of over 1,000 miles, across highways and regular roads, the energy consumption dropped as low as 526 Wh per mile—that’s impressively efficient. With Pebble Flow, my Cybertruck’s towing range jumped from 120 miles to about 220 miles. That means I can reach way more places, charge less often, and tow with much more confidence. 

用 Cybertruck 來拖露營車，真的是會讓人非常嚴重的里程焦慮，滿電能拖個 120英里已經算不差了；但即便是用油車拖，能拖的里程也是幾乎對半，不過油車的好處是油箱大，像我之前的 Ford F-150 有加大 36加倫的油箱，就是一加倫跑10英里，也能拖個 360 英里，再加上各處可見的加油站，幾乎沒有到不了的地方。

Pebble Flow 的推出，精準地解決了不少露營車使用的的痛苦！其中主打的一個首要功能就是電輔前進，Pebble Flow 自帶 45 kWh 的電池，兩個輪胎各有一個電動馬達，當被前車拖曳時，Pebble Flow 也會主動出力往前進，大大減低前拖車輛的能耗負擔。在超過一千英里的旅途上，在高速公路和一般道路上，前拖車每英里能耗最低只有 526 kW，真的是非常的省電。讓我的 Cybertruck 從120英里拖行範圍，躍升到220英里，能去的地方變多了，也大大減少電電的次數。讓你拖得更自在，更有信心。

Detail towing energy efficiency data

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cXa3Lee68YCp7o5bpmiqcuhF83qx3xc-U9VffgVdD9g/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Cybertruck Towing Pebble Flow: Real-World Efficiency Test

I set out from San Jose, California, heading south along the scenic Highway 101, with the final destination being the iconic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. This journey covered a total of 186 miles, giving us a real-world look at how the Tesla Cybertruck performs when towing the Pebble Flow electric travel trailer.

Battery Performance

• Cybertruck: Started at 100% state of charge, finished at 11%.
• Pebble Flow: Started at 99%, ended at 36%.
• Cybertruck Average Consumption: 522 Wh/mi.

These numbers show that the Cybertruck consumed nearly 90% of its battery for the 186-mile trip, while the Pebble Flow used about 63% of its onboard battery. The Pebble’s propulsion assist system played a critical role in reducing drag and load on the Cybertruck, extending towing range significantly compared to traditional trailers.

Segment Breakdown

According to the narration, the journey was not just one straight stretch but a mix of freeway cruising and elevation changes:

• Bay Area to Gilroy: Smooth freeway driving, consistent speeds. Efficiency was stable, with the Pebble Flow assisting in keeping Wh/mi lower than expected for towing.
• Gilroy to Paso Robles: Longer stretches of open highway with moderate elevation. Energy consumption increased slightly due to climbs, but regenerative braking and Pebble assist balanced efficiency on the downhill sections.
• Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo: Final stretch included rolling hills. The Cybertruck’s consumption rose to its peak here, averaging over 530 Wh/mi at certain points, but the Pebble Flow continued to offset the towing penalty with active assist and regenerative support.

Overall Efficiency

By the time we reached San Luis Obispo, the Cybertruck had demonstrated an effective towing range of nearly 200 miles with the Pebble Flow. Traditional trailers of this size often reduce EV range by more than half, but thanks to Pebble’s aerodynamic design, propulsion assist, and regenerative braking, the system proved far more efficient than expected.

Takeaway

This real-world test highlights the future of EV camping. With a combination of Tesla’s Cybertruck and Pebble’s smart trailer technology, long-distance towing becomes practical, sustainable, and surprisingly efficient. It shows that electric towing is no longer just an experiment—it’s already a viable option for road trip and camping enthusiasts.

Trip Video

Google spreadsheet link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cXa3Lee68YCp7o5bpmiqcuhF83qx3xc-U9VffgVdD9g/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Row 15. San Jose to SLO

Row 17 ~ 20. Pismo Beach to San Jose

就不愛了

其實我心裡也有數，職業倦怠感從何而來

除了前兩天提到的身體不適和退化外，但不愛了才是更主要的原因

八年前剛加入現在這家公司時，覺得它一切都好棒！

專業領域來說，UI介面漂亮，UX體驗一致，開發和測試框架完整，不同的開發部份，都有一致的步調，一起為公司努力打拼

休閒領域來說，工作和生活平衡，沒什麼一大清早或半夜跟印度分公司的同事開會。公司天天提供免費自助式午餐，飲料、零食十幾種任你吃！公司三天一小趴踢、五天一大趴踢！當年有什麼 Google20 的，指的是用80%的時間做正事，20%做自己想做有趣的事，不少 Google 產品就是從這 Google20 中發想出來的。我們公司也有我們的20，但指的是加入公司後，一年內會胖20磅！我個人是胖了10磅，之後就不敢再無節制的吃了…

武漢肺炎封城之前，公司被吃垮了，發了封郵件說，公司不再每天提供免費午餐了。還有肺炎救了公司，因為封城，全員居家上班，公司退掉好幾棟用不到的辨公室，也不用準備午餐和零食，穩住了現金流，公司才得已死裡逃生。

不然矽谷工程師最注重的就是公司福利，你只要敢砍福利，絕對馬上有一波離職潮，在那個不怕找不到工作的年代，各家公司無不努力開條件來吸引人材。

被 AI 取代？

會不會被 AI 取代？

近來很容易討論到這個問題，不倫是同事/業間的茶餘飯後，來自親友的關心，當然還有不少網路上等著看好戲的酸民們。

那我反問你，為什麼你覺得你會被取代？你的工作重複且單調？你的技能不夠專業且無獨特性？那還真的已經或是快被取代了！而我呢？

我是個再撐十年就可以領退休金的大叔，我不怕 AI 嗎？嗯...還好耶，因為我夠資深(油條)，而且我有 AI 暫時還取代不了的東西 - Domain Know How 和 Business Logic。怎麼說？哪來的自信？

AI 寫程式碼目前還處於通用類的程式碼，你請它爬爬網頁、搶搶票等，這沒有什麼技術難度，AI 可以寫的又快又好。但要深入到你所在的產業，裡面的專業知識和一些妹妹卡卡(台語)的細節，這是目前 AI 還摸不到的地方。因為目前 AI 都還放在公有雲上，目前沒有企業會把自己內部的程式庫、設計書，商業文件上傳到公有雲上。因為 AI 讀取不到，自然也就無法學習這家公司或你的領域裡比較細節的東西。

但是...聽說 ChatGPT 要出給企業內部用的私有雲版本，看來被追上也是分分鐘的事了

不過我還是有 AI 做不了的事，就是「通靈之術」

未完待續...