Featured Tesla Truck

That would be a super fun way to plow parking lots, that's for sure... With all that torque...

 

I suppose you could do the crash test by running the Cybertruck into the belly of Chuck Norris...

 

Crumple zone engineering will be much different for higher quality steel, that's for sure...

 

Not to mention chuck

 

The energy absorbed is the product of the force over the distance:

• high resistance over short distance is one.
• medium resistance over distance is another
• low resistance over longer distance is the third

If one wants to absorb collision energy, all three have to be evaluated.

Bob Wilson

 

Yea, and when he states 3mm thick stainless steel "skin" that sounds good for "high resistance over short distance" but the engineering for the other two... That still remains to be understood... No crumple zones of thinner metal means passengers absorb way more force and end up dead at much lower than the 40mph max threshold cars are required to be crash designed for, so they have a plan for that, just don't know what it is yet... Or maybe because it's a truck there's a lower standard?

 

First plan - don't crash at high speed. Auto braking and electronic nannies will help.
Second plan - air bags, seat belts, etc.
Third plan - crumple zones - which should be safer than a truck with an engine getting pushed toward the passengers.

Her it is in the model 3
Model 3 achieves the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA | Tesla

and in the not quite as good model S
How the Huge Crumple Zone on Tesla's Model S Just Saved 5 Lives | Fortune

If that stainless monoque is damaged in a crash it will likely be more expensive to repair than a traditional body on frame truck, but its likely the driver and possible passengers will be safer from injury. The truck at least by eye looks a little more cab forward than the model 3, that along with higher weight will likely make it a little less safe, but higher seating position may help avoid accidents when not using the active safety systems in the truck.

 

We'll have to wait for the experiment to complete. It is possible that the replacement parts are already formed and more affordable than the 'usual suspects.' Let's wait a bit before speculation.

Bob Wilson

 

And impact greater than 40mph is going to kill

Not really... If you know how to weld stainless steel, it's real easy. you just use a cutting torch to cut out the bent stuff then weld a new piece in place, then smooth out the welds a little and you're done. No need for anything more than that! No paint matching, no bondo, no nothing... Super easy... Of course if you want it to look like brand new, then you aren't buying a truck for the right reason.

 

Regarding safety, it's likely the vehicle shown would run into trouble with the EU's pedestrian safety regulators. Realistically, the truck will be heavily redesigned before production, at a minimum it will need a new steering wheel, side mirrors, and a new front bumper. I expect the lights will be redesigned as well.

 

the design is probably already finished, but who would want to show that at an unveiling?

 

Tesla’s products tend to be pretty close to the prototypes.
However, this design would be really nasty on pedestrians. At least, that is my guess.

It will be interesting to see the European safety tests on the production version.

 

why is the design bad for pedestrians?

 

‘The European tests include a test for how much damage a pedestrian would take from being struck by the vehicle.
The front of the Cybertruck looks to be almost flat with a very sharp angle between the front and top of the hood. I haven’t run any tests obviously, but by the looks of it, any collision with a pedestrian is going to be very bad for the pedestrian.

 

interesting. doesnt seem that different than a lot of cars.

 

What you saw on stage is a prototype. It will never make it to market in that state. What an embarrassment.

 

Most new cars have a plastic bumper and a malleable hood so the head is protected in a pedestrian crash (cheapo sheet metal works fine). Some vehicles also have explosives or airbags to inflate the hood so it can cushion the impact if there's not clearance under the hood.

Pretty different from solid stainless steel. The angular transition from bumper to hood also will probably have to go.

 

I'm not aware that markets with strong, pedestrian safety regs are hotbeds of pickup truck sales. Regardless, I like the idea of an EU variant with a front overlay with air bags and comfy chair cushions.

Bob Wilson

 

They're well aware of what needs to be added, but the defiance of regulators is what Tesla does when they introduce a new vehicle. When it comes time to get the Vin#s they'll have complied with such legally required things as: side lights, side rear mirrors, a real steering wheel, more complex bumper design, etc..

As for an embarrassment, I suspect the tables will be turned a decade from now when all the people who hated how it looked when it was introduced are finally the ones being embarrassed because other truck makers are copying the design concept in order to get back the market share they lost to it.

This is a truck with a coefficient of drag similar to passenger cars at .30, which is a great leap forward in efficient use of energy compared to a big dumb truck with an average coefficient of drag up in the .60 level, which means the truck has much greater range on less energy than other electric trucks it will be competing with.

 

I know personally people that ordered it and couldn’t wait to show me. They think it’s the most futuristic looking vehicle they know was the reason they ordered it. They also know I had one of the first Prius around here which is the reason they couldn’t wait to show me.

You sure .60 is all it is? Ha ha ha some of the noses I’ve seen on some trucks looked like they could plow snow with it.


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