# Tesla Cybertruck **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2019, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866 "2019-11-23T10:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/221 "2023-12-02T23:36:00Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > I think there are very few CEOs (any?) who could/would make unilateral design changes on an impulse. Well, that’s true. Jobs was probably the only comparable example. But that’s also why their competitors find it so difficult to catch up. Either you make sweeping changes on occasion, or you just slowly iterate on what you have. Slow iteration works for a while, until the technological environment has changed enough. Sweeping changes carry risk, but so does doing nothing. With regard to Cybertruck, the 48v architecture is going to put them at a significant advantage once they can roll it out to other models. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/222 "2023-12-02T23:38:34Z")
But maybe we should just make this a thread where only laudatory/cheerleading posts about Musk or Tesla are allowed? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/223 "2023-12-02T23:39:05Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > It is kinda funny, though. How many Nissan Leaf owners got worked up over Nissan’s CEO literally smuggling himself in a box from Japan to Lebanon to escape criminal charges? Nissan’s CEO is not, of course, hyped as being a visionary engineering god-king whose genius and close involvement makes the company succeed or fail. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/224 "2023-12-02T23:41:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You’re a fan of Elon Musk and can’t be convinced otherwise No, I’m probably more aware of his faults than anyone here. It’s the ridiculous motivated thinking that I have a problem with. What I’m a fan of is taking risks, because I’m against the status-quoism that is so common across the political spectrum. Civilization needs more risk-taking to make it to the future. It would be wonderful if we could have more people with Musk’s positives and not the downsides, but I’ll take what I can get. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/225 "2023-12-02T23:42:27Z")
See guys? It’s politics and culture war stuff… Nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/226 "2023-12-02T23:45:59Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Nissan’s CEO is not, of course, hyped as being a visionary engineering god-king whose genius and close involvement makes the company succeed or fail Most people would be in a healthier place if they just ignored those stories, and focused on the actual accomplishments of Tesla and SpaceX (which are significant). Those accomplishments didn’t require a “god-king”, just someone with a grasp of physics, decent leadership skills, and a tolerance for risk. Unfortunately, this is apparently a rare combination. Is this the actual problem here? A backlash against hype? I get it, I guess, but maybe it’s time to turn off the TV if that’s all you’re seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/227 "2023-12-02T23:48:40Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > See guys? It’s politics and culture war stuff… Nothing more Try again. I’m happy to discuss the technical aspects of the Cybertruck (much happier than this other stuff, in fact). It has lots of neat stuff in it. But accusing anyone with a positive impression as a fanboy is not a productive start. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/228 "2023-12-03T00:00:11Z")
I think you’ll find that this particular sidetrack started following the post you made about Ghosn. Posts immediately prior to that were about bed length, towing range, and some pointed criticism of the styling. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/229 "2023-12-03T00:02:45Z")
I think you’ll find that posts like “I’m not giving Elmo my money” appeared long before any of my comments on the subject. Anyway, I’m totally happy to end the sidetrack (with moderator support if desired). ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/230 "2023-12-03T00:03:32Z")
And the market will reply. If they sell a million of these things in the next 5 years, well, mission accomplished. From the reviews many many things are well done. The form, not so much, and it shall be seen how the unique structure (and repair costs) plays out. Undentable? Unrepairable. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/231 "2023-12-03T00:06:32Z")
I agree; in the end, we’ll just have to see how the market responds. Initial impressions are positive, and they do have plenty of reservations, but converting those to sales (particularly with the price increase) remains to be seen. The body panels do unbolt from the inner structure. So while they aren’t repairable on their own, they can be swapped with undamaged versions easily enough. And no paint matching 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/232 "2023-12-03T00:14:12Z")
True. We’ll see how this plays out. I don’t think it’s EPA or DOT approved as of yet, so very Beta. Per usual. Thought it was supposed to be an “exoskeleton”? Is it in fact a frame and skateboard? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/233 "2023-12-03T02:31:31Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > Thought it was supposed to be an “exoskeleton”? Is it in fact a frame and skateboard? It’s a bit of a hybrid. Not quite as much of an exoskeleton as they hinted in the beginning, but the skin is absolutely structural. As best I can tell, the main components are large front and rear castings, with a skateboard pack connecting them, and then the body panels bolted to the outside. The panels absorb energy on impact and increase stiffness–allegedly, the triangle panels above the bed increase torsional rigidity by 25%. And the door panels are sufficient for side-impact protection without extra stiffener bars. There are some energy-absorbing elements besides these for crash protection. That’s not quite the full-fledged exoskeleton that was promised, but it’s not nothing, either. And since 2019, Tesla has really stepped up their large casting technology, so I think they decided that they’d put that to use here. I decided to stop by the Tesla showroom while out shopping, and they did have a Cybertruck there. Was super busy! It actually looks great in person; better than most photos. I think it’s so big that a lot of pics have to use wide angle, and that does not do the vehicle any favors, particularly from the rear. But in person you don’t notice it. In fact it looked surprisingly normal compared to the bloated, overmuscled, overgrilled mess that is most modern pickups. Fit and finish was good, but not perfect. I noticed that at very shallow angles, some of the panels had a bit of ripple to them, because they weren’t _perfectly_ flat. Not really noticeable unless you were looking for it, but still, a flaw. Alignment and panel gaps were pretty good. I did see some sharp edges that could catch on clothing, etc. I hope they can radius some of these corners more for the full production versions. The windshield wiper was, as advertised, hilariously large. But apparently effective, and the tiny bit of asymmetry arguably makes it look more futuristic. One of the reps there said he expects everyone to take off the side-view mirrors. There are plenty of cameras for visibility (which show up on the main screen), and it’s easy to remove them. It looks a bit sleeker without them, and improves range by a few percent. Legally, they have to ship with them, but no law says that cars on the road must have them. You know, like the tags on your mattress. Certainly didn’t hear any laughing or anything. I dunno how many people there _liked_ the looks, but everyone was super interested. The showroom was in a large mall area, so it wasn’t just Tesla nerds stopping by. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/234 "2023-12-03T03:00:38Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > As best I can tell, the main components are large front and rear castings, with a skateboard pack connecting them, and then the body panels bolted to the outside. The panels absorb energy on impact and increase stiffness–allegedly, the triangle panels above the bed increase torsional rigidity by 25%. And the door panels are sufficient for side-impact protection without extra stiffener bars. There are some energy-absorbing elements besides these for crash protection. It’s hard to know how to judge this crash test, though it doesn’t seem to have much crumple in the 35 mph head-on, and it looks like the rear axle actually snaps. In any case, this seems to be provided by Tesla, the NHTSA will do its own testing. > **[Watch the Tesla Cybertruck Get Crash Tested](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a46011736/tesla-cybertruck-crash-test/)** > > For those of you who want to see how the "exoskeleton" holds up in a crash, this video has the answers. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/235 "2023-12-03T03:06:38Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > and it looks like the rear axle actually snaps Unlikely. Remember that it has 4-wheel steering. More likely that the steering linkage broke and the wheels pivoted forward. But yeah, we’ll see how the crash tests play out. But all of Tesla’s other models get 5-star ratings and it’s unlikely they just missed something obvious. Steer-by-wire has a nice safety advantage in that there’s no rigid cylinder between the driver and the steering rack. It can absorb much more impact compared to a normal column. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/236 "2023-12-03T03:15:48Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > If you’re going to weigh the good vs. the bad, then you should apply the same principle to Musk. Tesla single-handedly dragged the car industry into the EV era. That’s a massive good that by far outweighs any bad. Personally, I think that even if Musk does manage to electrify all ground transportation, and make spaceflight affordable, and give free Internet to everyone on the globe, destroying Twitter is still going to be the greatest good he’s done for the human race. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/237 "2023-12-03T04:17:07Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Legally, they have to ship with them, but no law says that cars on the road must have them. Gotta say that was one of the most amusing things I learned in the course of the Cybertruck story. That the regulations mandate that you have to make and sell it with rearview mirrors, but you don’t have to _operate_ it with them on (though I suppose individual states could make it a state-level requirement). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/238 "2023-12-03T04:28:11Z")
To be clear, the truck has perfectly adequate cameras and an 18" screen on the inside to display the feeds on. The cameras are always aligned and don’t have the same blind spots as mirrors often do. And it detects cars in your path if you engage the turn signals. The law is somewhat behind the curve when it comes to improving tech. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/239 "2023-12-03T04:46:18Z")
An example of the distortion I was referring to: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4cScXs02tEQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Cybertruck panel distortion") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cScXs02tEQ) That shot really exaggerates the effect, since the panel is several feet long and I’m at a super shallow angle (which also makes the panel more reflective). But the effect is there. A matte black wrap would solve it, though. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866/240 "2023-12-03T14:44:20Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Most people would be in a healthier place if they just ignored those stories, and focused on the actual accomplishments of Tesla and SpaceX (which are significant). Your sincere concern for others’ mental health is touching if misdirected. As is the desperation to direct attention everywhere except the actual mental health crisis, which appears to be playing out as Musk destroying the value of Tesla and Twitter before our eyes. A very average man had a bit of luck, parlayed it into a myth, and overplayed his hand. Now we’re treated to the amusing spectacle of a blinkered fanbase explaining the unexplainable as Musk doubles down into the abyss. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-cybertruck/843866.md?page=13)