America‘s obsession with pickup trucks runs deep. Each year the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, Ram pickups, and their ilk top the sales charts. Increasingly though, buyers want more – more capability, more tech, more luxury even in their trucks. At the same time, the ongoing EV revolution promises increased performance and efficiency by ditching gas for electric propulsion.
The Tesla Cybertruck, first unveiled in November 2019 after years of rumors and speculation, sits at the intersection of these trends. Like the growing field of EV pickups emerging from legacy and startup automakers alike, the Cybertruck aims to reimagine America‘s workhorse vehicle for a new era.
Let‘s explore how this stainless-steel bodied pickup hopes to balance extreme capability, efficiency, and even sustainability in one radical package.
Cybertruck Development: From Metal to Reality?
Elon Musk first mentioned an electric pickup concept in a 2013 Tesla Master plan update with plans to produce a pickup after the debut of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover. Yet as those vehicles reached customers, a Tesla Truck seemed to slip further away.
Musk built anticipation by tweeting images of the pickup truck in 2018 before finally unveiling Cybertruck six years after his initial announcement.
"Trucks have been the same for like 100 years. We need something different and we need sustainable energy," said Musk at the 2019 reveal event.
And different it was – featuring an exterior more reminiscent of a stealth fighter jet than conventional truck. Beyond looks, the Cybertruck promises to push boundaries across all standard pickup benchmarks.
| Specification | Importance |
|---|---|
| Range | Determines how far truck can travel between charging stops |
| Towing/Payload Capacity | Limits what truck can haul or tow for work use cases |
| Performance | Acceleration and handling for responsive driving feel |
| Charging Speed | How quickly truck can refuel electricity on short and long trips |
| Interior Space | Cabin roominess and seating for passengers and gear |
| Exterior Protection | Durability and damage resistance for on- or off-road use |
Now slated to enter production sometime next year, Cybertruck specs remain in flux across these vital areas. But the aim stays clear – build the most high-tech zero-emission pickup ever conceived.
Pricing and Production Timeline
Following the hype of the initial reveal, Tesla‘s website indicated tentative pricing of:
| Version | Price |
|---|---|
| Single Motor | $39,900 |
| Dual Motor | $49,900 |
| Tri Motor | $69,900 |
Hundreds of thousands of fully refundable $100 pre-orders poured in immediately with current reservation estimates exceeding 1 million Cybertrucks globally. Now deliveries could start by mid 2023 according to recent reports.
Tesla plans to manufacture the radical trucks at Gigafactory Texas in Austin, where Model Y production just got underway. The key milestone comes over a year behind schedule after supply shortages and factory construction setbacks delayed the ambitious facility.
Analyst Perspectives
“Knowing Tesla, delays are very much to be expected,” notes EV industry analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities. “But demand for the Cybertruck could raise capital to accelerate the buildout.”
Though pricing could certainly climb by launch, range and performance targets paint the picture of a no-compromise electric workhorse.
Range, Power, and Charging Expectations
Every electric vehicle lives and dies by its real-world driving range derived from the battery pack capacity. With consumers anxious about being stranded without juice, automakers push range figures ever higher through denser, more advanced battery chemistry.
Tesla aims to deliver benchmark range across Cybertruck trims:
| Version | Target Range | Battery Size |
|---|---|---|
| Single Motor | 250 miles | TBD kWh |
| Dual Motor | 300 miles | TBD kWh |
| Tri Motor | 500 miles* | 200+ kWh* |
*Expected battery capacity and range based on doubling capacity of latest Model S Plaid with 200 kWh usable battery and 520 mile range.
The single- and dual-motor variants would firmly lead the current lineup of gas or electric trucks, with only the 400-mile Silverado EV from GM matching the higher-end Cybertruck specs. Sizing up to competitors:
| Truck | Max Range |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 320 miles |
| Rivian R1T | 314 miles |
| GMC Hummer EV | 329 miles |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 400 miles |
To support trips beyond the battery capacity, 800-volt architecture will likely enable charging at rates up to 250 kW based on existing Tesla Superchargers. Recharging times are unconfirmed, but CTO Drew Baglino hints at possible goals.
”If you have a 500-mile range truck and you add 400 miles in 30 minutes, that‘s pretty good," says Baglino.
Such speeds could fully recharge an entire Cybertruck battery in under 45 minutes. Home charging would demand upgraded electrical capacity but allow fully fueling overnight on typical commutes.
All indications point toward a pickup with range and charging traits equaling smaller sedans rather than full-size trucks.
Performance Levels by Trim
While vital for work applications, most trucks spend much of their mileage simply hauling occupants on the daily commute. Quickness carries real-world value too for confident merging and passing response.
The Cybertruck looks to beat convention here as well, with each trim promising sports car acceleration thanks to instant electric torque:
| Version | 0-60 mph* | Power Output* |
|---|---|---|
| Single Motor | 6.5 seconds | TBD |
| Dual Motor | 4.5 seconds | TBD |
| Tri Motor | 2.9 seconds | >700 hp |
*Tesla performance figures
Let‘s contextualize those acceleration times against iconic American muscle. The Tri Motor matches the Corvette Z06 while lining up more closely to the outrageous 797-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye capable of a 3.6 second sprint.
Physics explains how electric trucks like the Cybertruck achieve such extreme output. The force driving acceleration equals torque multiplied by rotational speed. Electric motors greatly benefit from having 100% of motor torque ready from a standstill, while combustion engines build torque output across the RPM range. Combine instant torque with Cybertruck‘s AWD traction, low center of gravity, and lightweight materials, and physics gives way to brute performance.
While neck-snapping acceleration steals headlines, workhorse capabilities remain vital for truck buyers.
Towing, Payload and Capability
Truck consumers constantly balance outright speed against hauling needs. Towing heavy trailers or cargo requires torque down low in the RPM band while lifting huge payloads tests chassis and suspension limits. Though specs remain unfinalized, expected Cybertruck tow ratings already rival diesel trucks:
| Version | Max Towing* | Max Payload* |
|---|---|---|
| Single Motor | 7,500+ pounds | 3,500 pounds |
| Dual Motor | 10,000+ pounds | 3,500 pounds |
| Tri Motor | 14,000+ pounds | 3,500 pounds |
*Tesla guidance
The Tri Motor in fact edges out the towing capacity of the Ford F-250 Super Duty with its powerful diesel engine. Further configuration changes before production could push ratings even higher.
Payload capacity reaches class-leading levels as well, with adaptive air suspension able to lower the bed making loading heavier gear easier. Additional cargo and storage options give flexibility for either passenger or work truck roles.
| Bed Options | Benefit |
|---|---|
| 6.5 ft bed | Matches F-150 short bed dimensions |
| 100 cu ft exterior storage | Lockable compartments add capacity |
| Adaptive air suspension | Allows easier loading |
| Rolaway tonneau cover | Increases enclosed cargo room |
The Cybertruck will offer adjustable air suspension for easier loading and off-road ground clearance
Specifications clearly point toward extreme capability limited only by the maximum GVWR chassis rating yet to be shared. Of course adjusting ride height also aids another key expectation – off-road talent.
Ruggedness and Off-Road Ability
Pickups attract buyers planning to traverse construction zones, trails, and even rocky terrain on adventures. While dimensions cast a large footprint, ground clearance, approach angles, and Mud or Rock Crawl modes hint at cyberpunk levels of mobility:
| Feature | Off-Road Benefit |
|---|---|
| 35+ in wheel travel | Improves articulation over obstacles |
| Adaptive air suspension | Increases ride height up to 40 in |
| Armored steel body | Resists impacts from debris |
| Ultrahard glass | Handles trail scratches and cracks |
Add in hints from Elon Musk about advanced features like rear wheel steering for tighter turns. Suddenly Rivian‘s tank turn capability seems within reach of matching while protecting occupants better than any production vehicle in decades.
"With adaptive damping & raise/lower function, Cybertruck will be kickass off-road machine," says Musk.
But balancing this degree of functionality with efficiency leads back to perhaps the most polarizing design decision – the exterior.
Exterior Design Philosophy
To match extreme capability specifications in every category, Musk and his team landed on an radical direction – build the truck‘s structure completely from cold-rolled stainless steel. Leveraging expertise from SpaceX rocket tank production, the metal choice aimed for several key advantages:
Strength – Cold-rolled stainless is harder than regular hot-rolled steel with yield strength over double that of standard truck bed alloys and far beyond aluminum grades. Forming the entire outer structure from the material creates an effective exoskeleton.
Damage Resistance – With hardness nearing alloy tool steels, the textured metal finishes effectively resist scratches, dents from debris, and even metal fatigue from repeated load cycles.
Corrosion Resistance – Stainless steel derives anti-corrosive properties from added chromium creating protective oxidation layers on the exterior surface when exposed to weather. Reducing corrosion promises functionality and aesthetic appeal over decades of ownership.
Manufacturability – Steel generally proves simpler to manufacture versus aluminum structures which explains its prevalent use in trucks currently. TheQFontus steel plant building Gigafactory Texas specializes specifically in high-quality stainless products that may assist Cybertruck production.
Light Weighting – EVs carry battery mass penalties versus gas vehicles, but lighter curb weights maximize driving range by reducing inertia. When formed as efficiently as possible, steel construction can offer remarkable lightness.
Economies of Scale – Leveraging massive steel presses and welding robots from SpaceX operations could allow radical simplification of framing complexity for structural efficiency.
As CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk stands uniquely poised to capitalize on material and manufacturing synergies. Of course, challenges certainly remain in shaping effectively flat hard steel panels given limitations of metal forming tools which dictate Cybertruck‘s faceted styling.
"Press shops have been suffering for years from excess capacity. So it is not at all impossible to get agreement for such breathtaking purchases," comments Lars Akerud, materials expert and president of Forbes Materials Group.
The underlying exoskeleton promises safety and sustainability gains as well from recycling addressable stainless rather than mixed materials. But protection from hazards both on road and off road rely more visibly on the transparent armor surrounding the cab.
Armored Glass
Glass constitutes the most vulnerable surface on vehicles, susceptible to damage from both debris and collisions. Musk admits learning this lesson the hard way when attempting to demonstrate the toughness of Tesla‘s glass on stage with a metal ball.
“It cracked! It didn’t go through, so that’s a plus side” joked Musk after the incident. “Room for improvement.”
The layered glass composition does indeed provide real protection, borrowing technology from Tesla‘s big rig Semi truck designed for hauling freight. Exploiting the strength of elastic polymers laminated between chemically hardened sheets aims for resistance to fractures combined with impact absorption for occupant safety.
Providing barrier-like reassurance to owners venturing off the beaten path pushes the Cybertruck ethos to extremes – granting owners confidence no factory truck has matched before. Of course truck buyers still expect far more luxurious cabins for those long workday commutes.
Interior Expectations
In contrast to the armored aura suggested outside, Musk promises a comfortable interior experience with seating for six adults. Early glimpses reveal surfaces stripped down compared to current Tesla models but potentially improved from the sparse reveal prototypes.
Based on the brand‘s existing portfolio and the premium price targets, anticipated features likely include:
- Leatherette seating surfaces
- Alcantara accents
- 17 inch central touchscreen display
- 12 inch digital gauge cluster
- Wireless device charging
- Multi-zone climate control
- Over 75 cubic feet of storage space
- Audio system with Tesla Theater surround sound
Locking compartments carved from battery packaging and the gear tunnel promise unique storage flexibility. Overall the cabin looks to balance utility and comfort better than gas trucks through thoughtful layouts.
Of course radical performance, endurance, and protection must not overshadow the original impetus – securing a sustainable future.
Sustainability Impact
The Cybertruck and swelling field of battery-electric trucks aim to fundamentally transform functionality while moving away from reliance on gasoline. As renewable energy capacity grows,bateach silent mile powered by batteries rather than internal combustion brings carbon emissions closer to zero.
Reducing harm doesn‘t end there according to Musk, who noted on Twitter:
"Cybertruck is intentionally an impractical beast that will kick ass and be iconic. Key thing is overall sustainability of company production, including difficult components like glass and (stainless) exoskeleton."
Pursuing often difficult manufacturing techniques focuses on recycling and reuse at end of vehicle life as well. Holistically assessing materials and production methods ensures significantly lower lifetime carbon levels and resource depletion per truck.
While the path to volume production faces skeptics, early demand confirms public appetite exists for just such a machine promising capability, innovation, and even principled ideals baked into steel and code. Perhaps the Cybertruck will truly prove the future of sustainable transportation with a uniquely Tesla twist lies not merely in different thinking, but remembering trucks play an outsized role.
Based on specs and vision, Tesla appears poised to kick more gas-powered tail than critics ever expected.
