Tesla Unveils Radical Cybertruck.

A battery powered Delorean truck. Interesting.

OTOH, on my daily commute I deal with asshats in Teslas all day long who can't drive or drive like it's Nascar. Now we have a big, huge, steel version that will be driving like an asshat on the Dallas North Tollway. Fantastic.

I was hoping the electric revolution would lead to smaller, fast, efficient cars. This is just.......

I'm not dropping my hundred grand on this.
 
A battery powered Delorean truck. Interesting.

OTOH, on my daily commute I deal with asshats in Teslas all day long who can't drive or drive like it's Nascar. Now we have a big, huge, steel version that will be driving like an asshat on the Dallas North Tollway. Fantastic.

I was hoping the electric revolution would lead to smaller, fast, efficient cars. This is just.......

I'm not dropping my hundred grand on this.

Relax my friend, finance it, then make the payments while pan-handling at every super charger from your house to your destination while you tow anything. If it winds up anything like TFLcar and their Model X towing experience, the gassers will have nothing to worry about.
 
It depends where the steel is going and high strength steel is very new which is much thinner then what was used at one time. Hoods, trunks, quarter panels tend to be thicker while door skins and fenders tend to be the thinnest. While aluminum bodies will be be thicker. Using thinner metal has been a goal to save weight, which runs counter to why Tesla is using such thick panels. It would be smarter on their part to run 2mm panels and save the weight and increase their mileage. Also the type of vehicle plays into it as well as a Truck runs thicker panels compared to lets say a econo car will. 18 gauge was still in use when I left Chrysler in 2010
There's quite a few cars that use aluminum for the hood and trunk and have for quite awhile now. I saw it when I worked in autobody 20 years ago even. Then again, you worked at Chrysler and they're usually a good 10 years behind. :p

As far as Tesla using thinner stainless, I read that they were actually considering going with thicker panels at some point during design.
 
There's quite a few cars that use aluminum for the hood and trunk and have for quite awhile now. I saw it when I worked in autobody 20 years ago even. Then again, you worked at Chrysler and they're usually a good 10 years behind. :p

As far as Tesla using thinner stainless, I read that they were actually considering going with thicker panels at some point during design.
My s2k has an alu hood and the nsx and insight are largely alu. Both are getting to 20 years now and were made in the same factory.
S2000 hood is so thin you can't press it closed, you have to let it close under its own weight.
 
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Ford has used aluminum well into the 90's for hoods and trunk lids on various cars/ trucks. But the newer generation F150 is all aluminum I think even the Super duties now, but I've lost track
 
It's been noted how closely the Tesla's design looks like this one from 40 yrs ago:
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https://jalopnik.com/a-deep-look-at-the-design-of-tesla-s-cybertruck-1839993654
 
I thought the planar shape was because curved require machine that are specialized to make those shapes. Flat panels you simply need to cut and weld on attachment points. Translation: cheaper startup to manufacturer
 
I thought the planar shape was because curved require machine that are specialized to make those shapes. Flat panels you simply need to cut and weld on attachment points. Translation: cheaper startup to manufacturer

Cheaper production line is a benefit, but you really can't practically stamp 3mm hardened stainless sheet into complex curves for mass production, so it isn't like they could stamp it once they chose that material.
 
Cheaper production line is a benefit, but you really can't practically stamp 3mm hardened stainless sheet into complex curves for mass production, so it isn't like they could stamp it once they chose that material.
Which makes me wonder... why in the fuck do you need hardened SS sheets? Are they seriously expecting this to be a heavy duty zombie apocalypse truck? I mean if you think EV you think weight savings, but now we go around and have heavy steel panels, armored glass windows, not to mention the battery weight which isn't something you can reduce mind you.
 
Which makes me wonder... why in the fuck do you need hardened SS sheets? Are they seriously expecting this to be a heavy duty zombie apocalypse truck? I mean if you think EV you think weight savings, but now we go around and have heavy steel panels, armored glass windows, not to mention the battery weight which isn't something you can reduce mind you.

They dont, it's just a marketing gimmick.

https://www.thefabricator.com/stampingjournal/article/stamping/die-science-stamping-stainless-steel
 
Which makes me wonder... why in the fuck do you need hardened SS sheets? Are they seriously expecting this to be a heavy duty zombie apocalypse truck? I mean if you think EV you think weight savings, but now we go around and have heavy steel panels, armored glass windows, not to mention the battery weight which isn't something you can reduce mind you.

This where we find out how much the "Exoskeleton" lives up to it's name. The outer shell is much more of a stressed, load bearing member here, than in a typical unibody.

So it could be that you don't come out that far behind when you remove a lot of the internal supports that typical unibodies have.

If you come out close in weight because you have less internal structure, and you get the benefit of a Very tough external skin that is immune to door dings and other minor crap, it's a nice win. You might even gain more interior room. Then its Win-Win.
 
One doesnt injection mold stainless steel. At all.
That would be plastic.

Ok, "die cast". (Wikipedia: "Injection moulding can be performed with a host of materials mainly including metals (for which the process is called die-casting)")
 
Which makes me wonder... why in the fuck do you need hardened SS sheets? Are they seriously expecting this to be a heavy duty zombie apocalypse truck? I mean if you think EV you think weight savings, but now we go around and have heavy steel panels, armored glass windows, not to mention the battery weight which isn't something you can reduce mind you.

It is aligned with Starship and SpaceX, uses the same material that they developed in house.
 
A list of some interesting features, if you have others you'd like to add feel free to jump in:

- 110v/220v outlets and an air compressor standard. Need to fill your own flat tire? Wanna operate a table saw? Wanna run a little cooler in the woods? Emergency home power backup? No problem.
- Body is (9mm) bulletproof, rust proof and scratch resistant.
- Instant electric torque/traction that's two orders of magnitude more responsive to slip than an engine.
- Extremely resistant to hydroplaning and rollovers.
- Immune to hydro-locking when in a large body of water.
- May offer limited floating capability in a pinch, propelling vehicle forward through wheel motion (unconfirmed).
- Zero tailpipe emissions, so no smog test hassles.
- Likely higher fuel efficiency than a Prius, so tons of fuel savings.
- Auto-retractable bed cover that's strong enough to stand on.
- Bed comes with a built-in ramp and bed lights as standard.
- Bed comes with lighting as standard.
- Bed has L-Track aircraft tie downs integrated into the upper rails, as well as T-Slots on the bed floor for customizing all manner of functional contraptions, be it shelves or tie downs, whatever you like, very modular and flexible system used in industry with standard parts to work with.
- Can be optionally equipped with a "solar" bed cover, potentially adding 15 miles of range per day while parked.
- Comes with autopilot as standard.
- Adjustable dynamic air suspension with controllable tilt and auto-balance ability.
- No wheel wells taking up some of the bed space, you got the entire rectangular space available.
- Dual/Tri motor options also offers redundancy: Can keep driving in an emergency even if one of them fails.
- Comes with sentry mode: Eight built-in motion sensing cameras, recording events around the vehicle from all directions, notifying owner by phone of potential attacks and intrusions, and able to provide the police with footage of any incidents, intrusions or accidents etc, if needed.
- Variety of storage features: Large hidden compartment under the bed. Large front compartment where the engine is supposed to be, looks big enough to fit some deer. Side "sails" also have storage built-in, good place for holding tools it seems.
- Gets over the air updates that can increase performance/range/features, as well as help with diagnostics/repairs, for free.
- You can park and watch Youtube or Netflix on a 17 inch screen with surround speakers on a road trip.
- Can smoke a Porsche at the stop light.


Lots of people would pay extra for some or all of those features. Yet most of these come standard even in the $39k trim.
 
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Ok, "die cast". (Wikipedia: "Injection moulding can be performed with a host of materials mainly including metals (for which the process is called die-casting)")
Yeah, sometimes wikipedia is just wrong. Die casting is injection molding like base jumping is skydiving.
 
What point LOL? you literally are comparing real world costs of a setup that exists, to one that doesnt exist and then coming to a conclusion that its better...?
When it comes to market, that comparison is valid. MSRP is MSRP. Expensive compressors and unavailable battery back/zero emission generators are expensive. If you need either of those the cybertruck is already pushing ahead further in value than any other comparable truck.

You have provided no evidence to the contrary.
 
It's Amazing how the Electric Pickup segment is quickly shifting from non existent, to looking crowded. The C&D Article tries to capture them:

Every Electric Pickup Truck Currently on the Horizon

I say tries, because they missed the GM announcement. Which isn't a surprise GM announced the same day, before the cybertruck reveal in a possible attempt to deflate the Tesla launch, which didn't work out to well, since almost no one noticed the GM announcement.
 
It's Amazing how the Electric Pickup segment is quickly shifting from non existent, to looking crowded. The C&D Article tries to capture them:

Every Electric Pickup Truck Currently on the Horizon

I say tries, because they missed the GM announcement. Which isn't a surprise GM announced the same day, before the cybertruck reveal in a possible attempt to deflate the Tesla launch, which didn't work out to well, since almost no one noticed the GM announcement.
And yet none of them have announced what their ranges will be while loaded or hauling.
 
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And yet none of them have announced what their ranges will be while loaded or hauling.
If it's anything like my gas machine it will be bad.
What I want is this style of plug in electric with a diesel gas turbine generator to charge and extend range.
 
And yet none of them have announced what their ranges will be while loaded or hauling.

Since every load is different in both weight an aerodynamics, and terrain elevation will likely be different as well, there is no way to really provide a meaningful number for this.
 
When it comes to market, that comparison is valid. MSRP is MSRP. Expensive compressors and unavailable battery back/zero emission generators are expensive. If you need either of those the cybertruck is already pushing ahead further in value than any other comparable truck.

You have provided no evidence to the contrary.

I cant really provide you with evidence to the contrary when conclusions are being made from nonexistant numbers. Again its great for Tesla PR, but an objective test requires more then fancy hypotheticals. And as you said yourself, folks looking for objective comparisons will need to be in a holding pattern till launch. Subjectively TESLA GREAT, EVERYONE ELSE BAD! lol
 
And yet none of them have announced what their ranges will be while loaded or hauling.

Model X with full tow load gets 1/2 the range. Would expect similar here. So 250 miles fully laden.. still enough for driving four hours straight at 60mph.. if you are two hours away from your daily worksite you're already wasting your time and money so I'd say that's a perfectly fine range.
Maybe take a touch off for the wheels on the CT.

If it's anything like my gas machine it will be bad.
What I want is this style of plug in electric with a diesel gas turbine generator to charge and extend range.
Range estimates as above.
I too have wondered about turbine extended PHEVs.... light weight and very compact and efficient when running full bore.
 
Cybertruck spotted on the road. Looks much better than the generic to other cars, melted jellybean Model X IMO.
Ripped it because fuck instaham.
 

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Model X with full tow load gets 1/2 the range. Would expect similar here. So 250 miles fully laden.. still enough for driving four hours straight at 60mph.. if you are two hours away from your daily worksite you're already wasting your time and money so I'd say that's a perfectly fine range.
Maybe take a touch off for the wheels on the CT.


Range estimates as above.
I too have wondered about turbine extended PHEVs.... light weight and very compact and efficient when running full bore.

You also have to factor in road grades which will lower your mileage drastically.
 
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Model X with full tow load gets 1/2 the range. Would expect similar here. So 250 miles fully laden.. still enough for driving four hours straight at 60mph.. if you are two hours away from your daily worksite you're already wasting your time and money so I'd say that's a perfectly fine range.
Maybe take a touch off for the wheels on the CT.


Range estimates as above.
I too have wondered about turbine extended PHEVs.... light weight and very compact and efficient when running full bore.

Problem with estimating with the Model X is that it is a 5500 lbs vehicle in its heaviest form with a tow capacity of 5000 lbs. One of the few tow articles online showed a 5k boat and trailer cutting range in half, and a boat is far more aerodynamic than say a travel or box trailer.

The Cybertruck likely weighs in the 7-8k lbs range (approximately the weight of larger HD pickup trucks), and is rated for 14k lbs towing. I would expect range to be cut in half for a load around 7k, and more than that as weight increases.

By the way, the California weight fee for an electric pickup truck exceeding 6000 lbs is $266 a year, on top of all the other standard registration fees. Under 6000 lbs would be $87. A 1/2 ton gas crew cab pickup truck would most likely pay $154 in weight fees, while heavy duty trucks are up to $257.
 
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Problem with estimating with the Model X is that it is a 5500 lbs vehicle in its heaviest form with a tow capacity of 5000 lbs. One of the few tow articles online showed a 5k boat and trailer cutting range in half, and a boat is far more aerodynamic than say a travel or box trailer.

The Cybertruck likely weighs in the 7-8k lbs range (approximately the weight of larger HD pickup trucks), and is rated for 14k lbs towing. I would expect range to be cut in half for a load around 7k, and more than that as weight increases.

By the way, the California weight fee for an electric pickup truck exceeding 6000 lbs is $266 a year, on top of all the other standard registration fees. Under 6000 lbs would be $87. A 1/2 ton gas crew cab pickup truck would most likely pay $154 in weight fees, while heavy duty trucks are up to $257.
Very interesting thank you and I'd say a pretty good estimate you have there. But LOL at weight sheckels, California sounds like a terrible place to live (what, 60% taxes after all the thousand cuts are added up?) unless you are sucking off the govt teat.

You also have to factor in road grades which will lower your mileage drastically.
Fair call. So maybe 150-200 miles fully loaded.
TBH if you are towing 14,000 lbs on the reg (three large cars..) you might just want to get a damn full size truck..
 
Very interesting thank you and I'd say a pretty good estimate you have there. But LOL at weight sheckels, California sounds like a terrible place to live (what, 60% taxes after all the thousand cuts are added up?) unless you are sucking off the govt teat.


Fair call. So maybe 150-200 miles fully loaded.
TBH if you are towing 14,000 lbs on the reg (three large cars..) you might just want to get a damn full size truck..

Yeah, 60% sounds about right. Interestingly enough, California is actually rated one of the more tax friendly places to live, due to Prop 13 (property taxes can only increase a maximum of 2% each year regardless of the market changes), low estate taxes, and other things I can't remember. Problem is the base cost is just so high that being in the middle ground is not a good place to be.

Agreed on 14k being too much for a 1/2 ton truck. Over 10k lbs and one should really think hard about going with 5th wheel trailers and HD trucks. Electric brakes and weight distribution hitches should be mandatory on bumper pulls over 6k lbs.
 
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Since every load is different in both weight an aerodynamics, and terrain elevation will likely be different as well, there is no way to really provide a meaningful number for this.
So testing and publishing data with the cybertruck towing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of its capacity is asking too much of Tesla (and others)? Let's be honest, the information has been collected, it just puts a serious damper on the appeal of an electric truck when it loses 50%+ of its range when towing half its rated capacity.
 
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Yeah, 60% sounds about right. Interestingly enough, California is actually rated one of the more tax friendly places to live, due to Prop 13 (property taxes can only increase a maximum of 2% each year regardless of the market changes), low estate taxes, and other things I can't remember. Problem is the base cost is just so high that being in the middle ground is not a good place to be.

Agreed on 14k being too much for a 1/2 ton truck. Over 10k lbs and one should really think hard about going with 5th wheel trailers and HD trucks. Electric brakes and weight distribution hitches should be mandatory on bumper pulls over 6k lbs.
My F150 is fairly unicorn wrt luxobarge model yet retaining the heavy duty payload package and max tow. It still says anything over 5,000lbs requires a weight distributing hitch in the user manual. People need to remember that all the people and crap in the cab and bed, the weight of your hitch, the tongue weight of bumper pull or pin weight for 5'er all detract from the payload figure on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. Luxobarge models lose more vs the advertisements because some of the options are very heavy and they too detract from payload. The highest advertised payload at least in F150-verse is a regular or extended cab long wheelbase 8' bed truck with 3.5l turbo engine and the heavy duty payload package, max tow, no other options at all. you know, the body in white contractor special (except turbo motor instead of 3.3l v6 or 5.0 v8.)

Losing heaps of range when towing at or near the published limits for a gasoline fired truck is almost always a massive reduction in range. If you tow like that often you want a turbodiesel engine, not a turbo gasoline engine or batteries (yet). My turbo gas truck can get 22 mpg on the highway by itself but if you put a 13,000lb trailer behind it depending on how much it imitates a sail it might be 9, 8, 7 MPG or worse but I wouldn't know, the HDPP for me was more about fitting a third dog in there without exceeding payload and instead getting a nice buffer. If you haven't noticed current production F150 crew cabs the rear door windows go down all the way, if you have big dogs that like to sniff ALL THE THINGS and can afford it, your dog will love you more if you buy one. This Tesla POS has insufficient rear window aperture size.
 
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So testing and publishing data with the cybertruck towing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of its capacity is asking too much of Tesla (and others)? Let's be honest, the information has been collected, it just puts a serious damper on the appeal of an electric truck when it loses 50%+ of its range when towing half its rated capacity.

Yes, it would be too much to ask. I don't see the gas/diesel powered trucks reporting this, so why would we expect EV trucks to do so?
 
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