Transportation of the Future: Tesla's Cybertruck

From Marty McFly’s time-traveling DeLorean in "Back to the Future" to flying cars in movies like "MIB: International", futuristic modes of transportation have always been a part of pop-culture. But now, this technology is becoming a reality. Let’s take a look at the technology behind future transportation such as Tesla’s new Cybertruck.

The Big Reveal

On November 21st, the long-awaited demonstration of the Tesla Cybertruck hit the stage. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, set out to demonstrate just how indestructible the truck is, but things didn’t go quite as planned.

First, the truck faced a sledgehammer being thrown at its body, and not a dent was made. So far, so good. However, when it came time to demonstrate the supposedly bulletproof glass, things went downhill. A metal ball was thrown at the driver’s side window, and it immediately cracked. When Musk suggested they throw it at the second window, the same thing happened. But why did this happen? Was the product not tested beforehand?

One of the theories is that the window was weakened by previous rehearsals of the demo. Another theory is that this was just a publicity stunt to make the news of the truck go viral: an effort that is now coined by the public as ‘Windowgate.’ Despite this failure in the demonstration, there were 200,000 preorders of the truck in just 3 days. Let’s take a peek at this truck’s amazing features.

The Specs

The main emphasis on the Cybertruck is that it was built for extreme durability. The exterior is made of “Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel” (tesla.com), the exact steel used on the SpaceX shuttles. Additionally, the glass is advertised to be bulletproof.

The truck can withstand up to 3500 pounds of payload, can tow 14,000 pounds, and has 100 cubic feet of external storage. The truck also has air suspension that you can adjust yourself, which has several benefits, including improved tire life and versatility as well as less shifting and damage to your payload.

Along with the durability factor, the tonneau cover of the truck (the cover to the back part of the truck that carries the payload) is strong enough for someone to stand on it.

Other Cool Features

Durability and strength aren’t the only cool features the truck has. The vehicle also boasts a 17-inch touchscreen on the interior of the car, along with the ability to seat six people and extra storage under the seats in the second row. The truck also has butterfly doors and an LED bar as headlights.

Along with purchasing the truck, you can also get the Cyberquad ATV, which can be stored in the back of the Cybertruck by driving it on and off the truck using the payload ramp. Tesla also offers the Cybertruck camping package, which includes a sleeping floor, a structured tent, and a slide-out electric stove.

Models and Pricing

There are three different models of the Cybertruck:

Single Motor RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive): towing capacity of 7500+ pounds, driving range of 250+ miles, speed of 0-60 mph in under 6.5 seconds. Cost: $39,900.

Dual Motor AWD (All-Wheel Drive): towing capacity of 10,000+ pounds, driving range of 300+ miles, speed of 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds. Cost: $49,900.

Tri Motor AWD (All-Wheel Drive): towing capacity of 14,000+ pounds, driving range of 500+ miles, speed of 0-60 mph in under 2.9 seconds. Cost: $69,900.

For $7000, you can add on a self-driving feature to any of the above models.

Tesla’s Cybertruck is something straight out of a sci-fi movie, and it’ll undoubtedly gain popularity as it becomes available on the market. With production expected to begin in 2021, the Cybertruck has already jumpstarted futuristic innovations in the automobile industry.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more articles!

Sources:

https://www.wired.com/story/electric-tesla-pickup-truck-announcement-specs-cost-photos/

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/7-funky-features-teslas-cybertruck

https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2019/11/30/top-ten-reasons-teslas-cybertruck-windows-shattered-despite-being-unbreakable/#3a8134843675