It’s fascinating to be alive in an era where new technologies are constantly springing up, improving our lives and inspiring our creative thinking. Tesla is one of those incredible companies that is creating big technological shifts in our time. With electric automobiles, solar, and integrated renewable energy solutions for homes and companies, this diverse corporation is speeding up the world’s shift to sustainable energy.
Tesla has been in business since 2003, with their first vehicle, the roadster, debuting in 2008. As of June 2021, a total of 8 cars have been announced, including those that have been discontinued, are in production, or will be released in the future. The Model X, Model S, Model 3, and Model Y are the four models currently available.
However, there’s been a lot of buzz recently regarding the Tesla Cybertruck (an invention totally different from previous models both in design, purpose, and appearance). Yes, the Tesla pickup really is called “Cybertruck.” Not “Model” anything, like Tesla’s cars and crossovers, the Model 3, Model S, and Model X. Just Cybertruck. Despite being a departure from Tesla and the broader car industry naming traditions, the Cybertruck name is refreshingly literal in the same way as the Tesla Roadster’s: this is a truck with a lot of cybernetic influence, plain and simple.
Even those who don’t keep up with the automotive world are likely aware of this wacky electric vehicle. There’s also been a lot of discussion regarding the various types of vehicles it competes with, as well as the various reasons why someone may want this one-of-a-kind vehicle. How it compares to traditional pickup vehicles and whether or not it will be purchased by pickup truck drivers.
In this piece, I’d like to cut through the fluff and get down to business, which in this case means determining who will go all-in and buy a Cybertruck (or more); and thoroughly examining the specifications and design of this beast (sooner or later).
The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery electric light-duty truck as announced by Company. There are three models of this beast, each with a range of 400–800 kilometers (250–500 miles) and a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.
The Cybertruck’s stated purpose is to provide a long-term energy alternative for the approximately 6,500 fossil-fuel-powered vehicles sold each day in the United States.
We’re still discovering more about the ambitious new truck, even if manufacturing is still a long way off. Read on to discover everything we know about the Cybertruck in this article. As it gets closer to manufacturing, it becomes clear that: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, stated in July that the new Cybertruck will be manufactured in Austin, Texas, alongside the company’s next electric Semi, which has been postponed until 2022.
Features of Tesla Cybertruck
To say that the Cybertruck is controversial would be an understatement. Tesla’s futuristic electric pickup truck generated a global sensation when it was first introduced in November of 2019. The Cybertruck seemed almost too good to be true, combining genuinely wild aesthetics, claims of remarkable capability, fantastic range, and some frankly ludicrous features (we’re looking at you, bullet-resistant bodywork).
External mirrors, which are required by current standards, are not present. There are no camera pods at all. The wheel spokes also extend over the sidewalls of the tires, which isn’t practical outside of a design office, especially on a truck, where such spokes can practically ground out. And since no one has been able to obtain a spy shot of a Cybertruck in testing, it’s difficult to believe any of these design “features” will make it to production.
In a more thematic manner, let me elaborate what we know about the features and design so far.
The Interior of the Cybertruck
The interior of the prototype unveiled on 21 November 2019 included a 17-inch center display, seating for 6 using two bench seats with the front middle seat being a fold-down center armrest, a digital rear-view camera based mirror, a race car style steering yoke, and a dashboard with a surface resembling marble. The rear middle seat folds down to allow loading of long cargo extending into the cab from the vault (enclosed lockable bed). The “marble look” dashboard of the unveiled prototype vehicle was a paper composite material made from “paper, wood-based fibers, natural wood pigments and non-petroleum based resins.”
The Exterior of the Cybertruck
Without its bed, a truck is nothing, and Tesla’s Cyber Truck has a fantastic one. The vault, as Tesla puts it, is a cheesy gesture that almost undoes the bed’s intrinsic coolness. The vehicle’s bed is 6.5 feet (2.0 m) long and looks like a standard pickup truck bed with a tailgate. To improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics, it incorporates sloped side walls and an incorporated motorized roller shutter style tonneau cover.
Tesla refers to this 100-cubic-foot (2.8 m3) enclosed chamber as “the vault” because of the added security it provides. LED light strips run down each side, there’s more under-floor storage behind the back wheels, 120 and 240 V AC outlets, and a compressed air outlet for pneumatic tools. While one report indicates that long freight can flow via a pass-through to the cabin, the prototype on exhibit has no such aperture in the front of the bed. In a tweet, Elon Musk said that the cabin’s climate control will be available in the vault for activities like camping.
A ramp that extends from the tailgate to the ground for loading cargo is one feature shown on the prototype but not expressly mentioned.
The external shell of the Cybertruck has been built for maximum durability and passenger protection. Every component, from the Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin to the Tesla armor glass, is intended for enhanced strength and endurance, starting with a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton.
A strong stainless steel “exoskeleton,” akin to aviation design, is used for the eye-catching appearance. Against the unveiling, Musk demonstrated the robustness of the truck’s body panels with an onstage demonstration of a sledgehammer swung forcefully at the door panels. The sledgehammer bounced off the panels each time, leaving no mark. The glass is also reported to be far more durable than what is currently utilized in the industry.
Colorless
Tesla is releasing Cybertruck in a single color, mimicking Ford’s century-old blueprint for the original Model T. In fact, the Tesla vehicle is available in no color at all. Only bare, unpainted stainless steel is available as an outside treatment. (Ford’s Model T, for example, was formerly solely available in black in order to expedite the manufacturing process and produce more cars hour by hour.) The Cybertruck’s edgy, 8-bit video-game style may be enhanced by the stainless finish, but it’s sure to put off some purchasers (those who aren’t turned off by the way it, um, looks). Customers will be able to vinyl-wrap their Cybertrucks, increasing the vehicle’s color and pattern options while reducing the environmental impact of vehicle painting. Oh, and, as with the Model T, the single color scheme simplifies the manufacturing process.
Bulletproof
The body of the Cybertruck, according to Tesla, is sturdy enough to survive a 9 mm handgun round. The Cybertruck’s body will be built of a stainless-steel substance that is Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled. This body form is both protective and long-lasting. Armored glass will be included in the bulletproof Cybertruck.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented video of 9mm rounds being fired into the pickup’s cold-rolled steel body panels and leaving nary a dent at the Cybertruck’s spectacular unveiling in November 2019. Any shots larger than 9 millimeters are expected to pierce the Cybertruck’s skin. The glass cracked when it was put to the test with a metal ball. As a result, Tesla still has some work to do in this area.
The Light Bar
The Tesla Cybertruck is equipped with some of the brightest LED lights available. The headlights are illuminated by a lightbar, which is followed by a lightbar at the top of the windows. In many aspects, the truck stands apart from the crowd, which is something Tesla was striving for. Other pickup trucks require an aftermarket light bar or attachment, which must be purchased separately.
There will be no need to equip Cybertruck with a slew of auxiliary lights like an old Jeep to improve visibility in the dark or on off-road paths far from the glare of streetlamps. The combination of that bulb and the headlight bar is quite nice, and it perfectly matches the Cybertruck’s rough edges.
The Cybertruck’s overall appearance begs the question of how well it will perform. The vehicle, however, will surely be ready to go off-roading with ease thanks to features such as the bright lighting. The Cybertruck was a specially designed vehicle.
The Stone Cold Trim
Tesla’s vehicles already have leather-free vegan seating surfaces, and the Cybertruck interiors will be trimmed with additional environmentally friendly materials. The dashboard is adorned with a long slab of material that looks like marble or granite, giving the interior a unique, organic appearance. We’ve only seen genuine stone trim on ultra-high-end luxury cars, but given electric vehicles’ rigorous weight objectives, this material is most likely not true. Furthermore, any additional weight added to a truck’s capacity is deducted from payload ratings and other factors.
Digital Mirror
I mentioned at the start of this article that this beast didn’t have a side mirror like we’re used to seeing. The design of the Cybertruck is a little unusual, and we’re not sure how its massive back sail panels and cavernous windshield supports will affect a driver’s outward view. Those opaque sail panels in the back, in particular, imply you can pretty well forget about visual checks of your blind areas. What happens when the roll-up tonneau cover of the Cybertruck is deployed, too? Goodbye, if there was any back visibility to begin with. Tesla’s solution is a digital, camera-based rearview mirror system, similar to what’s already in use in some trucks, in which a live feed of what’s behind the truck is sent to a rearview-mirror-shaped screen.
Exceptionally Long Driving Range
Do you have a hankering for some long-haul trucking? Don’t worry, Tesla’s electric powertrain shouldn’t prevent it from making long travels. The Cybertruck’s maximum range is expected to be over 500 miles, a 35 percent increase over the current longest-range Model S sedan. The key to the Cybertruck’s huge range is an optional stacked battery pack—think of it as a layer cake of battery packs.
The normal battery has a range of about 250 miles per charge. Tesla’s planned expansion of Supercharger stations into rural areas will make recharging easier and more accessible outside of America’s coastal zones. Long-distance travels will be even more feasible than they are now thanks to the Supercharger network, potentially boosting the Cybertruck’s popularity across the country.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Little is known yet about the cybertruck’s warranties. Tesla isn’t yet expressive on it as it is on other models. Tesla’s current models come with extensive warranties, but it doesn’t include any free maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers eight years, regardless of miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Conclusion
While every other car for the 2022 model year has already been released, Tesla’s forthcoming pickup is yet to be shown. This isn’t a surprise as it is not the first time there has been a delay.
When it was first announced in 2019, Tesla stated, “As production nears in late 2021, you will be able to finish your configuration.” Owners will be able to finish customizations when manufacturing approaches in 2022, according to the website. We wouldn’t be surprised if production models aren’t available until 2023. Well, I’m just saying…lol
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