20 Facts about the CyberTruck
#20: It’s a Pickup Truck
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When looking at the Tesla Cybertruck’s blocky, futuristic profile, you may be surprised to learn that it’s actually a pickup. In addition to a small front trunk, the Cybertruck sports a 6 foot by 4 foot composite flatbed. The durable composite design means that owners don’t necessarily need a liner or rubberization. The bed also contains a hidden locker for smaller items like a toolbox. The Cybertruck’s tonneau, or bed cover, is powered for easy access. With the cover open, the bed can hold a volume of up to 67 cubic-feet. With the rear seats folded down, there’s an extra 54 cubic feet of rear storage.
#19: Technical Problems
In January 2022, a whistleblower at Tesla shared 100 gigabytes of internal documents to the media. They revealed a host of technical problems with a number of Tesla vehicles, including the initial version of the Cybertruck. Vehicles undergo many tests during their development. Some, kinematics and compliance tests, assess a vehicle’s handling. The car is fixed in place while various forces and displacements are applied to the wheels. The results explain the quality of a car’s suspension. The leaked documents reveal that the Cybertruck’s K&C tests were abysmal. Tesla engineers reported a “significant gap” between the results and their targets. Engineers described poor pothole performance, “excessive mid-speed abruptness and chop,” “high head-toss accelerations,” and “structural shake.”
#18: Cyberpunk Design
Love it or hate it, the design for the Cybertruck is revolutionary. And that’s no accident. Tesla, at Musk’s direction, has opted for a futuristic, minimalist design for its signature pickup, influenced significantly by cool imagery from popular culture. According to Elon’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, the team decided fairly early on to run with stainless steel instead of carbon fiber. That choice, he said, forced designers into a futuristic, edgy, and jarring look.The steel and the Cybertruck’s sharp, angular edges are reminiscent of the DMC DeLorean: just don’t expect to go back in time.
#17: Fingerprints Everywhere
Anyone with stainless steel appliances at home already knows this, but Tesla's designers missed a fundamental flaw with the Cybertruck: smudges. Stainless steel is infamous for being a magnet for smudges and fingerprints. Early reporting shows that the Cybertruck is no exception. There is a reason that there hasn’t been another stainless steel car in many years. As of late 2023, Tesla has not specifically addressed the smudging issue. To avoid smudges, Cybertruck owners may just need to be vigilant with cleaning. Smudge experts recommend using weekly cleanings and olive oil applications for stainless steel appliances. That may not be entirely practical with a car.
#16: It’s Meant to Be Waterproof
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In September of 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk Tweeted about his upcoming pickup. As a response to the destruction of Hurricane Ian, Musk claimed that the Cybertruck would be mostly waterproof. During a future Ian-like squall, owners could briefly use the Cybertruck as a boat. It would have the ability to “cross rivers, lakes, and even seas that aren’t too choppy.” While that may ultimately prove to be even more hyperbole, the Cybertruck has been tested for water resistance. It has a special ‘wade mode’ that pressurizes the battery when forced to drive through water.
#15: Noise Leaks
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The leaked report in 2022 also raised questions about how well-sealed the Cybertruck may be. The engineers struggled mightily with figuring out how to make the truck watertight, and other Teslas had previously dealt with leaking issues. And in terms of a different kind of leak, complaints about excessive noise have run rampant for years, and it appears that the Cybertruck is no different. The whistleblower documents revealed twenty one noise leaks with the prototype vehicle. There were a "number of areas that we do not have a clear path to sealing," according to the documents. That reporting paints a portrait of a vehicle with an excessively loud cabin. Unless that’s been addressed, good luck to any passengers trying to take a nap.
#14: Accessories Galore
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Potential Cybertruck buyers will be very excited by the tremendous range of available accessories. Its bright headlights are great for low light situations in the wilderness. Campers and off-roading fans will appreciate the optional basecamp extension. A spare tire and range extender battery can both be mounted in the bed, and the tailgate can be converted into a ramp. The interior, too, is accessorized to the max (xref). The Touch screen is over 18 inches, with an additional display in the rear. The cab sports a 15 speaker sound system. There are multiple usb-c ports and outlets for easy charging. It also includes a hospital-grade HEPA filter for pristine, clean air in the cab.
#13: Steering Systems
Steering problems were counted among the many performance issues detailed by whistleblower documents. The Cybertruck has both steer-by-wire and four-wheel steer systems. When testing steering systems, delays of 5 milliseconds after input are considered acceptable. The leaked documents revealed a delay that was ten times worse for the steer-by-wire system. After Hummer revealed its own EV, Tesla engineers added a four-wheel steering system to the Cybertruck. That system didn’t fare any better in testing. Tesla added a ‘strafe mode’ to compete with GMC’s crab mode. The leaked documents reveal that ‘strafe mode’ was barely functional.
#12: It’s Claimed to Tow 11,000 Pounds
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If Tesla’s claims about the Cybertruck’s towing capacity are accurate, it’ll be one of the best towing EVs out on the market. The Cybertruck has three basic trims. The ‘Cyberbeast’ and all-wheel drive versions, according to Tesla, have an astounding 11,000-pound towing capacity. It also has an impressive 2,500-pound payload. For reference, that means the Cybertruck could tow more than the Ford F-150 Lightning or the Chevy Silverado EV. The more standard rear-wheel drive model could still tow up to 7,500 pounds on a hitch. As of the end of 2023, there is no reporting yet as to how towing affects the electric vehicle’s range.
#11: Poor Visibility
In the days and weeks following the release of the Cybertruck, complaints about visibility have run rampant. Its futuristic design leads to a very deep dashboard, bad news to pedestrians and bicyclists. The rear window isn’t much better: it gets partially obstructed by the tonneau cover when it’s lowered (xref). It’s not just the Cybertruck, however, this is a growing and pervasive problem. Trucks and SUVs have become the most popular vehicles in the United States. Their height, weight and long front ends have led to an increase in pedestrian deaths. According to the IIHS, hood height is a major indicator of a vehicle’s likelihood to injure a pedestrian.
#10: 0 to 60 MPH In 2.6 Seconds
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As of 2023, the fastest pickup truck in terms of acceleration is the Rivian R1T Quad-Motor AWD. Rivian estimates an acceleration of zero to sixty in three seconds flat. If Tesla is to be believed, they have Rivian beat. As of the end of 2023, much of the official Cybertruck’s specifications are still under wraps. But the EV manufacturer claims that their Cyberbeast model Cybertruck can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 2.6 seconds. For reference: The Cyberbeast is over a ton heavier than the Ford F-150 base model, but would ostensibly reach 60 miles per hour in about half the time.
#9: No Door Handles
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In an effort to maintain the Cybertruck’s sleek, futuristic look, it was built without door handles. Instead, the door opens utilizing a button on the window column. The button pops the door open around two inches, allowing the driver to fully open the vehicle manually. In addition to being incredibly confusing, it’s likely to add to the truck’s fingerprint and smudge problem. Muscle memory alone will have new owners pawing at the door. Worse, the design feature may prove to be more of a design flaw in colder climates. When iced over the morning after a snowstorm, for example, the button may not pop the door open at all.
#8: 800-Volt Architecture
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Critics, or at least skeptics of electric vehicles and their advantages will often point to charging speed and battery capacity as major problems to consider. There are indeed multiple levels of charging for different electric vehicles, depending on different charger systems and other factors. But the next wave of EVs, led by the Cybertruck, feature 800-volt architecture. A vehicle with 800-volt architecture (not exactly the same as 800-volt charging) uses less copper, helping to reduce its weight somewhat. Better yet, 800 volt architecture makes EVs more efficient. That could significantly cut down the time you’d wait for your Cybertruck to charge and how long it can run for.
#7: Braking Problems
When you’re driving a truck that weighs over three tons at high speeds, you need a very solid braking system. Unfortunately, that may not be possible for prospective Cybertruck owners. More Tesla leaked development documents doesn’t inspire confidence. The Society of Automotive Engineers rates a vehicle’s brakes on a scale of one to ten. Tesla was hoping for a ‘fair’ rating at 7. They instead received a ‘poor’ rating of four. Brakes are usually one of the first systems engineers design. As of January 2022, Tesla engineers were still using prototype parts for the Cybertruck’s brakes.
#6: 340 Miles Per Charge
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Without a national charging infrastructure, range will be one of the most significant aspects of EVs. In 2023, the Lucid Air Grand Touring XR AWD is the reigning champion. In ideal conditions it has an estimated range of 516 miles. The Fisker Ocean Extreme is the best performing SUV or truck, with a range of 360 miles. Tesla has announced that the Cybertruck base model can reach 250 miles on a single charge. The all-wheel drive model, however, can theoretically hit 340. With a range extender battery, the Cybertruck could travel from New York to Cleveland on a single charge. And thanks to the Supercharger system, it could reclaim 136 of those miles in just 15 minutes of charging.
#5: Potential Structural Issues
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The Tesla whistleblower reporting revealed significant problems with the Cybertruck’s initial structural design. The various prototype models of the vehicle were not encouraging in this regard, and questions remain about the Cybertruck’s resistance to body damage. A vehicle’s torsional stiffness is a measure of the torque required to disfigure a component. Those initial tests suggest that towing and off-roading could damage a Cybertruck over time. There have also been reports of doors installed askew as well as craggy surfaces. That’s not what potential Cybertruck buyers would be looking for.
#4: Autopilot Is Standard
Every version of the Tesla Cybertruck comes with Tesla’s base autopilot system as a standard feature. Tesla has included additional safety features for autopilot mode. The Cybertruck will include automatic emergency braking, collision warnings, and blind-spot monitoring. The autopilot is supposed to be seamlessly integrated with the truck’s navigational system and been tested for things like lane changing, and taking exits on the highway. The system can adjust the Cybertruck’s speed to match traffic conditions. What’s more, the system on some models can be upgraded to full self-driving as well.
#3: Autopilot Problems
Did someone say autopilot? Unfortunately, Tesla’s autopilot - particularly the full self-driving version - has more than a few kinks. It’s hugely controversial. The 2022 document leak detailed numerous problems with the autopilot system. There were at least 270 documented crashes with Tesla’s autopilot between 2021 and 2022. Since then, experts around the world have expressed worry. A 2023 recall to fix the autopilot hasn’t allayed those fears one bit. The autopilot, when coupled with Cybertruck’s other issues, have caused major concerns for the executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, Michael Brooks. Tesla’s inclusion of the autopilot mode led Brooks to call the Cybertruck a ‘guideless missile.’
#2: Designed to Be Indestructible
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Auto manufacturers have marketed trucks on their ‘toughness’ since Ford coined “Built Ford Tough” in 1977. In this regard, Elon and Tesla are no different. Since first revealing the Cybertruck prototype in 2019, Elon Musk has touted the vehicle’s indestructible frame. Utilizing technology pioneered in Elon’s other venture, Space-X, Tesla followed his lead. The Cybertruck is built with a 30x cold-rolled steel exoskeleton. It’s meant to be dent- and corrosion-resistant, and exceptionally durable. Hammers, bullets, crashes - the Cybertruck can seemingly endure much.
#1: Safety Concerns
Here is the big problem with being indestructible: that can actually be a bad thing. Car design has evolved beyond the rigid steel frames of cars. Manufacturers realized that if a car absorbs the force of an accident, it reduces damage to the passengers. That’s why cars use crumple zones, so the vehicle takes the damage instead of the driver. The videos of Cybertruck crash tests have left some experts and consumers worried. The indestructible frame of the truck seemingly doesn’t provide much cushion in a crash. As of the end of 2023, official government crash tests still haven’t been conducted. As a result we are left to wonder: is the Cybertruck the next bold step into a greener future, or more dangerous? What do you think of the Tesla Cybertruck? Let us know in the comments below!
