Tesla’s long-awaited Cybertruck is set for production by the end of 2023. After being delayed on multiple occasions, investors were finally able to see the production-ready prototype of the Cybertruck. The design stayed true to the original concept and left investors and onlookers excited.
“We finally have a finished product that has enough power to tow and keep up the range for the car,” said Jason Shum, senior aviation major and Tesla owner.
Tesla’s Cybertruck boasts a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds and a towing capability of 14,000 pounds, making it the most powerful vehicle Tesla has built, according to Tesla’s website. There will be three different models based on the number of motors.
The single-motor truck will only have rear-wheel drive capability. However, both models will have all-wheel drive. Perhaps the most distinguishing factor is the driving range. The single-motor Cybertruck will have a range of up to 250 miles, the dual-motor will provide up to 300 miles and the tri-motor will have a range of up to 500 miles on a single charge.
When looking at the Cybertruck, one will notice it is unlike any other truck in design.
“Other trucks look like copies of the same thing, but Cybertruck looks like it was made by aliens from the future,” said Elon Musk in a tweet.
While the design of the Cybertruck is unorthodox, there may be a method to Musk’s madness. Unlike the Cybertruck, most trucks are designed in such a way that limits the driver’s view of pedestrians. They are also elevated, which means in the event of a collision, they are impacting the pedestrian’s body instead of their legs. Studies have shown that these design characteristics have contributed to the recent surge of pedestrian fatalities, according to ScienceDirect.
The design of Tesla’s Cybertruck provides an angled hood that allows for optimal vision. Additionally, in the case of a collision, the car would strike the pedestrian’s legs, which could lessen the number of pedestrian fatalities.
This is especially important as the Cybertruck will weigh 5,000-6,000 pounds and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. This speed has some theorizing about Tesla’s future.
“I expect Tesla will go into racing,” Shum said. “The car already has a good speed on the line. It would be interesting to see how they tune that beyond their top speed.”
The design of the Cybertruck also enables it to complete tasks that most trucks cannot.
“Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes and even seas that aren’t too choppy,” said Musk in another tweet.
It is clear that Tesla is trying to remain relevant in the ever-growing electric vehicle (EV) market. The release of the Cybertruck should prove to do just that.
“I think the new truck will make it very competitive for other legacy car companies,” Shum said. “While everyone is transitioning to EV, only Tesla has the infrastructure to manufacture everything from zero to hero.”
