Blade Runner Redux - Tesla Cybertruck!

[ME_Andy]

Edit 1: maybe a traction control system with a faster response time would give an edge in the tug of war.

Edit 2: who cares anyway, it's a stupid demo.

[slowmover]

Tow Ratings like Payload are advertising terms. Zero insurance or legal applicability.

1). What’s needed are the wheel/tire/axle ratings. That’s what counts.

2). And against a TARE weight from a certified segmented scale. Driver, max fuel and gear aboard that never leaves the truck until sold. The adjusted true empty weight.

3). The capacity remaining against the limits at each axle determines what can and cannot be towed when strictly weight is involved. Aero is much more telling. 60-sq/ft frontal area is a standard reference.

As this vehicle isn’t going to go anywhere (around a metro area at most) it is heavily penalized by stop & go.

IOW, it might be lucky to make it 50-miles when up against its conditional rating.

Remove any subsidy and no one will be stupid enough to buy it. A rebuilt 1979 Ford F350 with a V8-460 is more economical over any lifespan projection when it comes to getting work done.

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[slowmover]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

The Cybertruck in the tug of war demo was the $50k version.

Does the 4wd Cummins truck weigh the same as an F150? I bet it's much heavier. But the Cybertruck supposedly weighs the same as an F150. What trim level and so on, I have no idea.

I saw Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Elon got into a Twitter discussion about the towoff. I actually think they're both wrong: once you have enough torque to spin the tires, it all comes down to which truck has more friction. And that depends on tires and weight. Like Metallica said, "Nothing else matters."

These days a 3500 Cummins 4WD diesel probably comes in at close to 8k on delivery.

[Xist]

I think that it is weird that millions of people somehow like a truck imitating "Blade Runner," which was set in a miserable world.

Graham Stephan said that it was designed with the "aesthetics and inspiration of origami."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAqEFBj-6Ug

Did he really buy it for $100?

Maybe...

He posted a video about buying a Model 3 for $78 a month and more than paid for his Tesla. He is highly successful, but he is as guilty of clickbait as Shouty, although he has not made a clickbait video about his clickbait, like Kilmer did.

One interesting thing that he pointed out:

For those commenting on the tax aspects of the car: (NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE - YMMV)
For business use of the car: Section 179 Deduction + Bonus Depreciation means that, potentially, 100% of the cost of the car could be a tax write off. If you finance the car 100%, your out of pocket expense is even less during the first few years. Combine that with whatever Federal EV rebates are available for you, depending on your state, in 2021/2022...depending on your tax bracket...and you could be looking at a relatively decent profit owning the car. Sure, you will have depreciation recapture when you sell...but, still - the upfront tax advantages might be worth it IF this car weighs over 6,000 pounds (I can't see why it wouldn't)

...and then this loser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-0DdRHA-ZQ

[botsapper]

Dubai, UAE police now has the Cybertruck to cruise for 500 miles and still able to chase down those wayward hypercars on the superhighways. And maybe have real bulletproof glass... https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/t...xecUzuv7GWhco4

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by The Armadillo

I didn't like it at first, but the more I look at it, the more I like it!
The cool thing about this design is that this will be the first production truck with a built-in aero-cap standard.
I am really curious about what the Cd is for this body??? It seem like there would be some airflow separation at the top point of the triangle.

The belly would be good for perhaps 0.07 according to Carr.
The mirrors 0.015 or worse.
The lack of a conventional cooling system was 0.027 on my T-100.
If you start with a RAM 1500 at Cd 0.36,you might be looking at Cd 0.26 with the Cybertruck.Hope to know some day.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

You can get a new 4wd Cummins for the price of the dual motor Tesla. That seems fair. Similar price, similar GVWR. Of couse they don't want to try an match the mighty Cummins even though Tesla's is also a 3/4 ton class truck not a 1/2 ton like they try and compare.

Actually a gas Powerwagon might be better with front and rear lockers standard. Less weight though than the Cummins with just a rear limited slip.

Yesterday,the UN Climate Program said,'Go with the Tesla.' (not really!)

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

...and then this loser:

Hey, don't disparage for the name. Doug is probably my favorite car reviewer at the moment.

He makes good points, but entirely missed THE point. The target demographic isn't people needing the most capable towing truck they can afford, it's commuters that like truck-like vehicles. It might also be people that don't like working on trucks, because they are the least reliable, most expensive vehicles to maintain. Finally, it probably will be a good work truck for some contractors. Kinda nice not having tools exposed to prying eyes.

[Xist]

Dr. Phil, how much of an aero penalty would the roof have, compared to my version of Hersbird's version?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Xist

Dr. Phil, how much of an aero penalty would the roof have, compared to my version of Hersbird's version?

Wish my skill set were up to the challenge.Either Full-Navier-Stokes Equation CFD,at supercritical Reynolds number,or full-scale tunnel testing would tell the tale.Some thoughts:
*Flattening the roof would reduce frontal area (good!)
*It would structurally weaken the roof,which otherwise may already be optimized for roll-over protection.(it's perfectly triangulated).
*The suction peak at the windshield header would be moved forward,altering aerodynamic axle loading.(may or may not be an issue).
*The 'aftbody' roof portion would be reduced,killing off a portion of the most beneficial deceleration ramp (pressure regain) feature of the vehicle (according to Hucho,Kamm,Fachsenfeld,Lay,etc.)
*There's little question that once the flow encounters the roof apex,we'd see separation (bad),however the downward slope actually appears 'conservative' and we might see rapid flow reattachment over a captured/locked vortex,allowing the inviscid outer flow to proceed to the separation line,undergoing continuous pressure recovery as it transitions;ultimately breaking away to form a wake of relatively high base pressure and overall reduced pressure drag.Just as Hucho applauds.
I'm going to hold judgement on the initial design until the numbers are published.In interviews,Elon Musk has mentioned that aesthetics are important to him.He likes 'beautiful' to be included in the design calculus.As an engineer,he may be attempting to thread a tightly configured needle,balancing between form,function,and subjective visual appeal.
When all the dust settles,I believe that a jury of his peers will consider the Cybertruck an out-of-the-park home run.I do.