When it comes to automotive innovation, Tesla is an industry leader. On December 1 last year, Tesla's all-electric pickup truck Cybertruck officially launched deliveries in the U.S. market after years of delay, and its unique design attracted a lot of attention and won a large number of enthusiastic fans.
However, in terms of **, this pickup truck model is about 43 yuanThe starting price of 50,000 yuan is slightly higher in China's market environment with special regulations for pickup truck models. What's more, this entry-level model won't be available until 2025.
Recently, the car officially launched a tour in China and gave a new Chinese name - Tesla Cyber off-road tourer. Judging from the name, Tesla seems to be trying to circumvent the positioning of the pickup truck and pave the way for its domestic listing.
However, according to Musk, the Cybertruck electric pickup truck faces great difficulties in getting on the road legally in China, and the reasons are self-evident. The domestic regulations for pickup trucks are not only not allowed to enter the urban area, and high-speed driving on holidays is not free, but also in terms of annual examination, it can also not enjoy 6 years of exemption from inspection. The most important thing is that after 15 years, the car will be forcibly scrapped.
Today, we will not discuss whether this car can be successfully driven on Chinese roads, but the main highlights that may "disrupt" the industry again.
Unforgettable appearance, this is what the future should look like?
Perhaps when you first saw the Cybertruck, I believe most people were attracted by its extremely unique design. In particular, many people reported that when they saw the Cybertruck up close, they were blown away by its unique design.
It is reported that Musk once asked because of his children: "Why is the current future not as we imagined?" He was so moved that he began to rethink the design of existing cars, especially pickup trucks.
He realized that despite the rapid pace of technological developments, the basic design and engineering of modern pickup trucks had changed very little over the past 70 years. Therefore, as an entrepreneur with innovation as the core driving force, Musk decided to challenge tradition and embarked on an innovative journey of pickup truck design.
The Cybertruck's design concept and appearance are mainly inspired by two classic films: the 007 film series "Underwater City" and the 1982 sci-fi masterpiece "Blade Runner".
In "Underwater City", 007 drives a land car - Lotus ESPRIT
In Underwater City, 007 escapes from the bottom of the ocean in a white sports car, a unique vehicle that became a key prototype for the Cybertruck's design.
On the other hand, Blade Runner, with its unique cyberpunk style, has had a profound impact on the overall atmosphere, color tone, and detail of the Cybertruck. In addition, when Musk visited the Peterson Museum in 2017, he was inspired by some cyberpunk-inspired concept cars, which provided more innovative ideas for the design of the Cybertruck.
So, who brought this innovative idea to life and shaped the Cybertruck? That was Tesla's chief designer Franz von Holzhausen and his design team.
Tesla's chief designer Franz von Hozhausen.
It is reported that as the chief designer of Tesla's Model S 3 X Y, Semi electric semi-trailer truck and the second-generation Roadster, Franz was born in Switzerland and is an experienced automotive designer who has participated in the design work of well-known brands such as Volkswagen, General Motors and Mazda, and joined Tesla in 2008 to participate in the design work.
It is worth mentioning that he, like Musk, has the spirit of daring and innovation, and always pursues original and unusual design concepts.
Suffice it to say, the Cybertruck looks like a giant metal with sharp angles, giving it a very visually striking feel. The rearview mirrors are the same color as the body, and the large wipers and seemingly tough off-road tires are unique and original, so many people are impressed by the unique design of the Cybertruck when they see it up close.
However, despite this boxy design, the Cybertruck's drag coefficient is still controlled at 0335cd, the average drag level of pickups before that was 05cd, even the Dodge RAM and Toyota Tacoma, which have been taken to the extreme, are greater than 035cd, low wind resistance also allows the beast version to accelerate to 2 per 100 kilometers7s become possible.
Comparison of the windtight airflow of the Cybertruck.
Inheriting oneself, simplicity is also bold
Speaking of interiors, we have to mention some of Tesla's innovations in this area, and this innovation I call bold.
Instead of the traditional steering lever, the innovative design is controlled by the left and right buttons on the steering wheel, and the absence of a traditional instrument cluster in front of the vehicle provides an unobstructed field of view.
The interior of the Cybertruck.
In addition, the new car continues the single-screen design of the central console adopted by the Model 3 Y, and almost all control functions are concentrated in the ** console 18On a 5-inch display, that's larger than the Model 3 Y's 17-inch display.
When you look at the UI interface on the screen, the first thing that catches your eye is the 3D model of the Cybertruck. You can look at it like you would a 3D game.
The small dots floating on the screen are used to operate various functions on the car. For example, if you want to open the trunk, adjust the position of the charging port, or change the appearance of the car, such as the suspension height, you can do it directly on the screen with a single click. If you are afraid that it will be inconvenient for your child to get into the car, just click the wheel icon on the screen, and the car will automatically come down, which is super convenient!
However, as far as I can see, it is not yet possible to conclude whether the practical aspects of the Cybertruck can correspond to the tastes of our people, after all, we are behind in this regard, and this is a challenge for Tesla.
However, at present, it is impossible to make a definite judgment on whether the practicality of the Cybertruck can meet the needs of Chinese consumers. After all, in this regard, China's market latecomers are dominant, and they have enough advantages in the rationality and coordination of design, which undoubtedly poses a challenge to Tesla.
The technology is "excellent" but is plagued by dystocia?
Okay, so I'm going to get to the top of the story about some of the first technology highlights in the industry on the Cybertruck.
As we said earlier, the appearance of the Cybertruck is very different due to its distinctive styling design, although the appearance is very outstanding, but you must know that it is very difficult to manufacture. Even Musk, who has built several "starships", admits that complaining that the design and production of the Cybertruck is too difficult, as if digging his own grave.
So why is that?
First of all, in traditional car design, the passive safety of the body mainly depends on its basic structure, which is commonly known as the "skeleton" cage body. This is complemented by trim and opening and closing parts such as fenders and doors, which are often made of low-carbon steel or aluminium alloys that are affordable and easy to manufacture.
But Musk believes that the pickup truck should be full of tough guy images, and its appearance should be "tough enough" at the first time! As a result, Tesla has developed a special super-hard stainless steel alloy – martensitic steel (also known as martensitic stainless steel) – for the vehicle's overall shell covering.
Cybertruck body-in-white with shell coverings.
According to the person in charge of Tesla's research and development of this alloy, Tesla's method is to feed the relatively low hardness austenitic 300 series stainless steel into the die-casting machine, first flatten it, and then adjust its shape and structure by changing the pressure to realize the transformation of the crystal structure from austenitic to martensitic, so as to greatly improve the strength and hardness of the steel.
Tesla's order for a 6,000-ton die-casting machine from the Idra Group.
This explains the main reason why the Cybertruck's body has a certain ballistic performance and can withstand the fire of the Thomson submachine gun, ensuring that the body is not easily scratched. However, this also makes production more difficult.
Ballistic performance of the Cybertruck.
In addition, Tesla faced another challenge in shaping the hard material into the right shape. It is important to know that the hardness of martensitic steel far exceeds the traditional steel used in common cars in China, so Tesla has developed a manufacturing process called "air bending", which deforms the steel through high air pressure without direct contact with the surface.
When you go and squeeze a piece of metal to achieve a certain shape you want, stainless steel has more uncertainty than traditional steel. The greater the pressure of use, the greater the uncertainty tends to be magnified. When producing panels, the air pressure is farther away than it actually is, because the steel rebounds, and this uncertainty can lead to quality problems.
Stainless steel has more uncertainty than conventional steel in trying to squeeze the metal into the desired shape, and the greater the pressure applied, the more the uncertainty becomes apparent. When producing panels, the air pressure is often set higher than is actually needed, due to the springback phenomenon of the steel, which can lead to quality problems.
In addition, given Musk's emphasis on the sturdiness of the body shell of the pickup truck, its body thickness reaches 3mm, compared to only 1mm for conventional vehicles. As a result, the Cybertruck treats body panels as part of the body structure and is hailed as an exoskeleton design, eliminating the need for side impact beams.
Cybertruck shell process and thickness.
In an automotive safety test, a vehicle weighing 3,100 pounds was rated at a rate of 33The 5 mph speed hits the side of the Cyber pickup. Amazingly, the Cyber Pickup is barely deformed, the door glass is intact, and only the wipers are slightly affected. This result is a testament to its excellent safety performance.
The use of new materials makes the Cybertruck heavier in terms of weight than most cars and trucks.
Earlier, Musk mentioned in an email to Tesla employees that "the Cybertruck is made of bright metal and the edges are mostly straight, so any change in size will stand out like a flaw." He required that all components of the car be designed and manufactured with an accuracy of less than 10 microns (i.e., millionths of a meter).
As a result, conventional cars are fundamentally unchanged in nature, and the overall platform is basically the same, so there is no need to reinvent new tools or assembly sequences. However, the Cybertruck is more than 90% different and requires a lot of time to invest in R&D and manufacturing, so it is amazing that Tesla was able to put together a complete production line in such a short period of time.
It is not difficult to understand why Musk believes that production is very difficult, and it may not be until 2025 to achieve an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles.
Is there really a sports car gene under the pure electric pickup?
It is worth mentioning that the Cybertruck is Tesla's first model to use an 800-volt main power system, while other pure electric pickup trucks still use a 400-volt voltage platform.
In addition, the Cybertruck has increased the 12-volt low-voltage system of conventional cars to 48 volts, a first in automotive history.
We know that at the same power, the higher the voltage, the lower the current required, which in turn reduces the number of wires. The 48-volt voltage reduces the length of copper wires required for cyber pickups by three-quarters, significantly reducing Tesla's costs, and the low current also reduces wire energy loss, reduces the weight of the vehicle, and thus increases the range.
Cybertruck electrical architecture.
Historically, the automotive industry's last upgrade in voltage dates back to 1955, seven decades ago, when voltage was raised from 6 volts to 12 volts. Since then, however, the voltage system has not been updated, mainly because the increase in voltage levels required the replacement of all electronic unit controllers that were originally based on the 12-volt architecture. These controllers can be found in hundreds of locations at major automakers and may come from different vendors. Replacing the electronic units meant that the entire automotive chain had to be adapted to the new voltage system, which was a complex and costly undertaking.
Traditional car companies tend to be conservative and have not responded positively to calls for far-reaching reforms. However, Tesla has always taken a long-term view when formulating its corporate strategy and vehicle design, not just short-term costs. Because Tesla adopts a full-stack self-development and self-manufacturing model, it has greater flexibility and innovation capabilities. In its next-generation platform, Tesla is working on designing entirely new controllers and plans to shift all cars to a 48-volt power system.
Comparison of the size of ordinary 12V batteries and Tesla 48V batteries.
While the switch from a 12-volt system to a 48-volt system may not seem obvious to consumers, the benefits from an engineer's perspective are significant, such as the fact that it provides important support for the development of steer-by-wire systems for steering wheels.
The so-called steer-by-wire system is unique in that it is very different from traditional mechanical or hydraulic steering systems and there is no physical connection.
While conventional vehicles require a direct connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels via a steering axle for steering, the Cybertruck uses an innovative design that converts the driver's actions into electronic signals via sensors, which are transmitted to the wheels for controlled steering.
At high speeds, steer-by-wire has the ability to reduce steering speed, resulting in a more stable and smooth handling experience. In low-speed driving scenarios, such as parking or low-speed cornering, steer-by-wire enables faster steering response and more agility in handling.
Of course, the lack of mechanical transmission also supports the weight reduction of the vehicle, so it helps in terms of handling and improving range.
What's more, the Cybertruck is also equipped with rear-wheel steering.
According to overseas**, the maximum turning angle of the steering wheel can be controlled within 180 degrees after the application of steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering technology in the steering system of the Cybertruck, and the steering ratio is also variable. Although it takes some time to get used to this steering process, it is actually easy to operate and the user does not need to rush to operate the steering wheel.
At low speeds (up to 40 mph), the Cybertruck's rear wheels can be rotated up to 10° in the opposite direction, making the vehicle more agile at low speeds, especially in parking lots. When driving at speeds above 40 mph and entering high speeds, the rear wheels change by 1 to 2 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels, providing a more stable driving experience. This makes it smoother when switching between lanes, and the overall feel is like an extended wheelbase.
The Cybertruck's steering system makes it easier to maneuver in tight spaces. Many users have reported that being able to turn easily in a narrow parking lot makes the large vehicle appear smaller, making it easier to drive.
In terms of power, the Cybertruck offers three power options: single-motor rear-wheel drive, dual-motor four-wheel drive, and three-motor four-wheel drive. One of the three-motor models is called the Beast Edition, which has an output of 845 horsepower, is capable of towing a weight of 5 tons, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h with a time of 2It has a range of approximately 515 km in 7 seconds, and can be extended to 705 km with an additional extended battery pack.
Cybertruck battery pack.
It's also worth mentioning that Tesla will be offering a 50kWh battery expansion pack. While this expansion takes up some of the cargo space in the body, it has a significant effect on increasing the vehicle's range.
The Cybertruck has a 50kWh battery pack.
Finally, it's worth noting that the Cybertruck is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 123kWh, which is the largest battery Tesla has adopted to date. The battery pack is equipped with 1,366 second-generation 4680 batteries independently designed, developed and produced by Tesla. These batteries are able to store more energy while emitting more power while not overheating, and are significantly less expensive to produce than previous batteries.
Write at the end
Looking at the Cybertruck again, the many highlights of the bodywork are undoubtedly remarkable. There is no doubt that Musk intends to subvert and lead the automotive industry again with this model. However, looking back at the leadership of Musk, Tesla has gradually introduced new technologies such as silicon carbide power devices and pure visual neural network algorithms, and has actually become a leader in the industry who has the courage to "try first". As a result, we have reason to believe that the Cybertruck will also reshape the entire industry landscape and bring new opportunities in the field of electric vehicles. Do you feel the same way?
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