Featured Tesla Truck

I don't think Tesla needs to sell this in such volumes. They aren't Ford or GM, who needs their truck sales to carry the car models. The Model 3 is a BMW 3 series in terms of performance and profit that sells in Accord numbers. No reason not the expect the Model Y to do as well, if not better.

It's possible they've deluded themselves into thinking this will rival the F150, but not likely. It is more probable the Cybertruck is viewed as a low production model on introduction. It will be using the Model 3 batteries and motors currently in use by other models, so the major development cost is the body.

 

Way to troll the conversation... Congrats on having "no opinion."

 

I think it will hit the market in the same way the Hummer hit the market... Of course the demise of Hummer market was fuel economy and repair costs. There's not very many parts that fail in an electric cars because their simply is far fewer parts available to fail, so we'll see... I wouldn't be surprised to see it as the dominant vehicle at construction sites and on the roads everywhere by 2029.

 

idk about dominant, but between all the new electric trucks in the works, i can comfortably agree with 2029, since no one will remember

 

The Cyborg Truck doesn't remind me of GM's Hummer family at all, because the latter was a dead end from the get-go, unable and perhaps not even intended to bring innovation or long-term extra value to the owner vs. other SUV's and trucks of the time.

I look at the Cyborg Truck and I find it rather weird, but not intrinsically ugly. Like I said, if Musk gets it to the US market with the announced specs, in the announced time, for the announced price and with decent build quality, it will sell in commercial quantities, barring events not under Tesla's control.

 

the truck is like the x doors. the why's are never answered satisfactorily

 

Where style intersects light utility trucks, I've always felt that the puzzle to solve was to make things to be inexpensive and durable, and then make them look as good as you can. Components will break. Maybe not because the boss is throwing ball bearings at it, but stuff will break. Truck buyers want to know that a broken window is going to be about the same process it is with their old truck.

A broken lamp or something could cause a failed inspection, or worse if the vehicle has commercial plates. So the lenses should be cheap and tough.

How friendly is it to upfitting? the exoskeleton stressed skin sounds like a neat engineering achievement, but does that mean I can't cut/drill/weld it to attach antennae, materials racks or other esoteric equipment?

I'm leaving the looks out entirely- but what I see doesn't look like it's going to wear inexpensively.

 

Dead end? The largest greenhouse gas emitting operation in the world in the US military has been using the Hummer as their primary vehicle for almost two decades? And while fossil fuels may be heading towards a dead end the Hummer is no where near that and this vehicle's very wide Hummer like stance, low profile despite being high clearance and radar-stealth design lines is going to be something Military contracts will arise from very rapidly in the same way electric big-rig contracts exploded with major corporations who currently spend way to much on fuel.

 

Stainless steel exo-skeleton means it's a giant steel box that you can weld anything you want to it... If I was a welder by trade the options this design offers are mind-blowing. And when people are spending $60K or more for a new truck these days why would you think think the puzzle to solve is to make things inexpensive and durable?

 

Just to split some hairs: the US military uses the Humvee. I don't think it, or its original civilian version are at all mechanically related to GM Hummers H2 and H3, which were based on the same platform as the Colorado, only with a bigger box.

I am not sure how to understand the rest of your message ... that the Cyborg Punk Truck will be made into an HumEVee? Perhaps, if Musk figures out how to make it to the military spec. I don't know if the CyPuT has all-in-one wheels, which would be very useful for the military, but the prototype tech already exists:

Home - REE

 

Because imparting those qualities into the product is a form of value that the buyer appreciates. They want to know that it can take a few whacks but if it really gets beaten it won't mean trading in the truck.

It's not terribly difficult to do that, and if you manage it well enough and put really nice upholstery in it, more of that $60k is pure profit.

 

I wonder how long before the military gets really interested in the solar power tech. That would help with fuel logistics a lot.

Also, I wonder if this thing were to be fully wallpapered in flexible solar cells panels perhaps it could loiter in the lower stratosphere indefinitely (potentially doing the reconnaissance and communication satellites' job)?

Eviation | Eviation Alice

 

The radar profile of the vehicle is akin to stealth aircraft and stealth ships... 150K pre-orders in first 24 hours hours and that's just the civilian version...

 

Yep... Going with stainless steel is a good indicator that they understand that... Scratched paint problems no longer exist when you go stainless...

There's also been some really huge innovations of late with metal grinding techniques to shape metal surfaces to reflect specific colors, textures and depth... I follow an artist on instagram that uses special grinding techniques and coloring to create incredible holograms just by scratching steel in the right way, which would look amazing on a cyber truck. Check it out yourself:

 

When I saw the side windows cracked, it reminded me of the Mythbusters series on escaping from a sinking car, at least three YouTube videos. But there were also videos about escape tools that would cut the seatbelt and break the side window. Personally, I don't have one but believe we'll see Tesla side glass tested once the cybertruck is available.

Bob Wilson

 

Yeah you and the grumpy billionaires ruling the stock market saw that window smashing and dropped the value of tesla by 6%... That didn't stop 150K pre orders being made in the first 24 hours. Name another electric truck builder with a waiting list like that over months, let alone the first 24 hours.

 

Do any of you actually think this truck is less attractive than a Hummer?

 

Nope, I think it's way better... I'm also eager to learn more about it's radar profile. Historically, specific pickup trucks built in the second half of the 1900's had some of the largest radar profiles of any vehicle ever and I can't help but think Musk's engineering chops is aware of this and these vehicles will be very hard to find with long-range radar.

 

Someone figured why the weird shape .......so they can ship more efficiently