The Tesla Cybertruck is here, yay! Ohh, not excited? Allow me, your automotive guide, to give some balance to all the huzzahs happening out there right now. Because there are some good things. But there are also bad things.
Good: The Tesla Cybertruck has steer-by-wire
Every car on sale today has a drive-by-wire system for throttle control – there is no direct link from your foot to the gas pedal. Instead, as you press down, a computer chip reads how far (and how fast) you’ve pushed the pedal and decides how much to open the throttle body. This has been an excellent thing, allowing for better launch control integration and more precise pedal control.
Auto makers have been working on braking-by-wire, but Tesla jumped ahead to steering. In the Tesla Cybertruck, there is no direct link from the front wheels to the steering column. Just like the throttle, you turn the wheel and a computer decides how much steering angle to send to the wheels. This has the benefit of making the steering wheel turn less at low speeds (think F1 car; only half-turns in each direction). It also reduces complexity and weight.
“But what if it fails?” An F-22 has a fly-by-wire system, so if they can zoom around at Mach 2 without worry, I think we’ll be just fine. The system has redundancies built in.
Yes, the yoke steering “wheel” is still idiotic. But at least you don’t need to turn it much.
Bad: The Tesla Cybertruck still has range and towing issues
This thing weighs 6,603 pounds, and can only tow a max of 11,000. Range info is hard to verify, but everyone is saying it’s only around 350 miles max, about the same as a Hummer EV. All the other “Big Pickup” names like the F-150 Lightning and Silverado EV can tow and go about the same.
I think, if you need a pickup truck to do actual pickup truck things, your best bet is a diesel variant. These are all toys, and they will remain so until they are as practical as dino-juice trucks.
Good: The Tesla Cybertruck looks different
We always complain when we see a concept car, and then the real thing looks completely different. Whether or not you like the look of the Cybertruck, at least it’s different, and faithful to the original design.
I fail to see the difference between this and say, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. Both are driveway ornaments that have amazing ability – for a truck. They make no sense in the traditional way you might need one of these.
Bad: Tesla quality sucks
On the surface, Tesla’s decision to engineer and produce a new battery entirely in-house is a good thing. Cutting down production and shipping costs is a worthy goal.
But then we take into account that Tesla already owns a supercharger network that doesn’t play nice with anyone else. They’ve taken as much in-house as they can, with the ultimate goal to become self-sustaining and not rely on any secondary vendors, like every other OEM.
That sounds like a monopoly to me. And until they get their quality control in a better spot, I don’t think it’s a good thing.
Just how bad is Tesla quality? From panel gaps and terrible paint jobs to autopilots failing and catching fire, I think they build crap. In 2023 so far, 183 Teslas have caught fire. In that time, eight BMWs have suffered the same fate.
Ah, you saw some reviewers mention crash safety? That’s not synonymous with build quality. Yes, the Cybertruck and other Tesla models score very highly in crash protection, receiving the IIHS Top Safety Pick+. But you know what else does? A Toyota Corolla. A Subaru Outback. Nissan Rouge. Point is – most cars are very safe by now.
Good: The Cybertruck’s 48-volt system will push other auto makers
BMW just sent me a note saying that when I write copy, I can’t say something is “built in South Carolina” because the FCA had an issue. Instead, it’s “Assembled in the US with foreign parts”.
Point is, this sort of minutia is what typical auto makers concern themselves with. Like him or not, Elon doesn’t play by the rules. Without Tesla, BMW’s own build quality might still be a decade behind. The entire Cybertruck makes the fact that Mercedes puts out a $200,000 G Wagon without a touch screen even more ridiculous. Would Porsche have built such an excellent Taycan without Tesla’s prodding?
But there’s a big one. The Cybertruck is the first mass-produced car to be built with 48-volt electrical architecture. A 48-volt system can accommodate high electrical loads more efficiently, which reduces the size and weight of the wiring. This means better efficiency, better handling and more production efficiency. A wiring harness on an X3 can weight over 50 pounds alone.
Think how important this is – 12-volt systems were used in the 1950s on cars with headlights and radios, and that’s it. Compare that to a modern car, and the need becomes obvious. Why are cars so heavy? Here’s a great reason.
Bad: The Cybertruck answers a question no one asked
Well, not just the Cybertruck. But if you need a bullet proof car for daily driving, I think we should talk about your life choices.
This thing, the Hummer EV – they are ludicrous vehicles that serve the same purpose an Acura NSX does – to cast a halo on the rest of the lineup.
“Look what we can do!”
Indeed. How about we actually address the issue of how electric cars are no better for the environment. Or the line to wait (and then charge) your Tesla at a Supercharger lot.
And there’s a reason all pickup trucks look the same – because they work! Sometimes you just need an F-150 to haul your crap. I don’t think you’ll be seeing these in use by your local landscaper, or spread across the farms of America.
But hey, you know what? This looks like fun, and fun behind the wheel is what I’m all about.
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