Tesla Cybertruck

I think there will be a few types interested in it, and the category you mention is certainly one (and I agree about the sorta Countach vibe).

Another category will be those that can make use of its distinct features–the most important one being the roll-down bed cover. I’m thinking contractors specifically. They get tools and equipment stolen out of their trucks all the time. There are lockable toolboxes and such available, and tonneau covers–but it’s going to be hard to beat a motorized system that covers the entire bed, and to a greater height on the cab side of the bed.

Another feature is the air suspension, which will allow raising/lowering the whole truck, and putting it into a kneeling position for easier loading.

The F-150 Lightning has a 5.5-foot bed; the Rivian 4.5-foot, and the Cybertruck 6.5-foot. They’re all roughly the same length and have similar cabs; the Cybertruck just uses the length for more bed instead of more hood. People who want an electric truck and need max bed length will want a Cybertruck.

Cost, I think, will ultimately favor the Cybertruck. Tesla has proven much better than the competition at reducing costs. The gigacastings are a big part of it, but their battery pack design is about the most efficient out there and they have the most tightly integrated heating/cooling systems. And, well, they don’t spend a lot of money on buttons :slight_smile: . So people who care only about specs and cost, and don’t care at all about looks, should be interested.

I think there will be at least a few truck drivers who aren’t necessarily looking to turn heads, but do like the idea of driving an absurd behemoth of a vehicle. I mean, look at the current crop of standard ICE trucks–they’re grotesque, like those bodybuilders that inject stuff into their muscles. Their bulk has nothing to do with practicality, but the buyers seem to like that. Probably most will still be put off by the shape, but I think a non-trivial fraction will like the brutalist aspect. It’s also, uh, partially Tommy-gun proof:

While both Ford and Rivian are going to get access to the Supercharger network, that’s still a couple of years off and even when it arrives for them, it’s likely to be not quite as seamless, at least at first. Part of what makes it work so well for Tesla is the billing system and the in-car software, and competitors will have to match that. In the meantime, Tesla will have an advantage.

I think those and more add up to a reasonable market. The top 3 vehicles in the US are all trucks, and capturing even a small part–or even expanding it to non-traditional truck people–is still a pretty good business.

I mean, a DeLorean will turn heads too…

My boss put down a deposit for one. He didn’t like his Tesla car, so I don’t exactly understand this move.

It’s about 6 inches longer than Ford and Chevy crew cabs with the 6.5 inch bed.

Your boss appears to have a very distant and only fleeting acquaintance with rationality! :wink:

You make compelling points, @Dr.Strangelove . I think time will show that you’re right.

When I posted my pics to FB, many jumped out to say how fugly it is. But once it gets more popular, we’ll all get used to its appearance. Heck, I’m getting used to the front end of the WALL-E Rivians.

Well, he does still, even now, after all this, support Trump. So yeah.

I think that is a feature that Tesla should promote. A lot of people drive larger trucks for perceived safety reasons, and a (literally) bulletproof truck would definitely appeal to them.

For now an electric truck is mostly useless for the normal truck task of relocating heavy objects, so this could be a way to appeal to another market. Motor Trend tested one of the Ford electrics, and found it mostly incompetent at any actual hauling, except very short range. According to them it has roughly the towing energy of an ICE truck with 4 gallons in the tank. Disclaimer: I haven’t gone through all their math, and I don’t know if MT is historically anti-electric, but it’s a damning report on the usefulness of these trucks.

I got curious, and its dimensions are very close to my Ram 3/4 ton (crew cab, long bed). Mine’s a bit longer and taller but weighs 2000 lbs. more than the Tesla. I really like the look of the Cybertruck, but it’s range is only a fraction of what I want, so it’s not for me.

Yeah, crew cab long beds are quite big. Might as well head straight to the far end of the parking lot.

The Tesla has a 6.5 inch bed. Which my Dodge regular cab has. I use my trucks to plow. Short wheel base is important for turning radius.

You need an articulated plowing cybertruck. That would turn both heads and curves!

And bigger too! It shouldn’t be painted silver but TARDIS-blue.

For your model train winter diorama?

I looked at the pics and thought, “Who put armor plate on an El Camino?”

My second thought was, “Does it have adjustable suspension? Cause that’s pretty close to the ground.”

Finally, is there indeed an optional snowplow attachment?

FWIW, the beds on most El Caminos were 78-79" long and about 45" wide, if I recall correctly.

It’s definitely true that EV trucks see a bigger range hit from towing than ICE, but this is misleading.

It’s true in a literal sense: a gallon of gas has about 34 kWh of energy, and the F-150 Lightning has a 98 to 131 kWh battery. Most EVs are in that rough ballpark (cars trend lower, usually more like 60-100 kWh).

The difference is that EVs are very efficient at turning energy into useful work, perhaps 90-95%. Whereas an ICE engine is more like 30% under realistic conditions. So that 4 gallons is more like 12.

Still, that’s something of a deficit. Trucks often have huge tanks, and if you tow a lot you might get dual tanks. That’s probably close to 40 gallons of gas.

EV trucks also work harder on other efficiency factors, like aerodynamics and tire friction. That helps day-to-day driving, and brings that 12-gallon equivalent to something more usable. But that doesn’t do anything for whatever you’re towing–whatever bad aerodynamics it has isn’t going to change. So relatively speaking, the EV truck is hurt more because it’s starting from an efficiency advantage.

Not everyone needs huge range. The trucks can still pull a huge load. If you’re just pulling your boat to a lake 25 miles away, there’s no problem. But the trucks aren’t for everyone yet.

Bad news for those of you who were going buy one and immediately flip it. Not allowed in the first year after purchase:

He uses it to haul his Stonehenge set.

It does appear to be strictly an anti-flipping measure:

For Cybertruck Only: You understand and acknowledge that the Cybertruck will first be released in limited quantity. You agree that you will not sell or otherwise attempt to sell the Vehicle within the first year following your Vehicle’s delivery date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you must sell the Vehicle within the first year following its delivery date for any unforeseen reason, and Tesla agrees that your reason warrants an exception to its no reseller policy, you agree to notify Tesla in writing and give Tesla reasonable time to purchase the Vehicle from you at its sole discretion and at the purchase price listed on your Final Price Sheet less $0.25/mile driven, reasonable wear and tear, and the cost to repair the Vehicle to Tesla’s Used Vehicle Cosmetic and Mechanical Standards. If Tesla declines to purchase your Vehicle, you may then resell your Vehicle to a third party only after receiving written consent from Tesla. You agree that in the event you breach this provision, or Tesla has reasonable belief that you are about to breach this provision, Tesla may seek injunctive relief to prevent the transfer of title of the Vehicle or demand liquidated damages from you in the amount of $50,000 or the value received as consideration for the sale or transfer, whichever is greater. Tesla may also refuse to sell you any future vehicles.

From here:
https://www.tesla.com/configurator/api/v3/terms?locale=en_US&model=my&saleType=Sale

Eh. Scalpers are the dregs of humanity, so it’s hard to get too excited about measures that target them. Actually, it seems like it might be a benefit to new buyers–Tesla will buy the car back for a reasonable fraction of the purchase price if you want to sell. You just aren’t going to make a profit on it.

Ferrari and probably others have similar anti-reseller language.

WOW. That’s gotta be a first in the automotive industry: no resale and, if you must sell it, you must offer it first to the manufacturer.

WOW.

Just for the first year.

No, not the first, but it’s only common in the rare/limited edition vehicle market. And Cybertruck is going to be fairly rare for a while.

Quotation from this article:

https://electrek.co/2023/11/11/tesla-will-sue-you-if-you-try-to-flip-your-low-vin-cybertruck/

Interesting. Thanks for that information.