Blade Runner Redux - Tesla Cybertruck!

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by JSH

Why is insurance more for Teslas if they are involved in 6x fewer crashes?

Locally, a top spec S at AU140k costs about the same insurance wise as my AU45k van, and only a couple of hundred more than my TJ. YMMV

BTW, those are astronomical insurance rates. A P100D costs about US$500/ year based on the quote I got.

[RedDevil]

I don't think the CT wil easily get body damage.

I remember how a Land Rover army ambulance totaled my dads Subaru Legacy.
The ambulance was parked on the shoulder and decided to do an 180 (without indicating or whatever) right when my dad drove by. I saw it coming and decided it would be best to look the other way. I had several small wounds from glass shreds in the back of my neck and right ear...

The Land Rover's reinforced front bumper hardly lost any paint, and that was all the damage it had. It may well have been built out of 3mm thick steel.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Remember that the body is structural in the CT, so it probably isn't as simple as riveting a new panel on. Body damage then simultaneously becomes frame damage.

I expect repair procedures similar to Audi, Lotus (etc) for their alloy chassis. Drill out the rivets, cut through the bonding, then replace with a new piece. More significant damage and you're out of luck.

At the end of the day if a car suffers frame damage I don't really want it back.

[redpoint5]

I'm generally ok with frame damage if the wheels can be aligned properly. I ride motorcycles, so my tolerance for risk easily accommodates the very tiny increased risk of driving a repaired frame damaged vehicle. Although I'm sure it happens, just as people get struck by lightning, I've never heard of tragedy caused by a frame damaged vehicle resulting in a wreck.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

Locally, a top spec S at AU140k costs about the same insurance wise as my AU45k van, and only a couple of hundred more than my TJ. YMMV

BTW, those are astronomical insurance rates. A P100D costs about US$500/ year based on the quote I got.

I’m sure a big part of the difference in USA vs Australia’s rates is medical costs. Here the insurance company for the driver at fault has to pay the medical bills. Those can be hundreds of thousands or millions or dollars

The numbers I listed are base model vs base model so a $80k Models S vs a $100k Mercedes S Class.

[redpoint5]

I ran the numbers for a Tesla once and compared it to a Chevy Bolt. Granted, I only got a quote from 1 insurer, the Tesla came out slightly cheaper. That's my anecdotal story regarding insurance costs.

Liability insurance is pretty darn cheap, even given our expensive medical system. The lion's share of insurance premium cost is comprehensive/collision.

I'm paying something like $200 for liability only every 6 months for 2 vehicles. That's $17/vehicle/month.

[Hersbird]

Tesla insurance is expensive for one because on the normal cars they have a lot of low mass under a Coke can. Any collision is going to spread damage far and wide. In Tesla's case the car also ends up out for months and companies pay thousands in rental fees.

No matter how "tough" you make the skin it's going to deform in almost any collision and need repair. If you make those panels and the structure under easy to replace at the existing body shops with readily available parts, it won't be any big deal to repair. If it requires an aircraft mechanic and you wait a month on parts from Tesla, you might be disappointed in the rates.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

If it requires an aircraft mechanic rocket surgeon and you wait a month on parts from Tesla, you might be disappointed in the rates.

Space X engineer required for repairs.

[RedDevil]

So far damages to the Cybertruck have been limited to 2 broken side windows, and since the perpetrator responsible for the damage is known (a certain F. von H.) the bill will be on the side guilty of the damage so it won't hurt insurance rates too badly.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Cabin heating is free in an ICE because it uses waste heat. There's little incentive to have a thermally efficient space in a conventional vehicle, but it becomes more important in an EV, since heating is not accomplished with waste heat. I could see insulation becoming more important in an EV both for heating efficiency and for isolating road noise, which is more pronounced when it isn't somewhat masked by engine noise. Also, the extra weight penalty of insulation in an EV does little to affect overall range or efficiency since much of the energy spent to accelerate the weight is regenerated when slowing down.

The vacuum is the best known unsulator.In the Sun Belt,this glass will be a great boon to air conditioning load reduction,something only a stationary,thermal power plant can presently use waste heat for bootstrapped refrigeration.Selective,spectrum-specific,vapor-deposition coatings, can also limit solar transmittance,for additional load avoidance (astronaut's gold-coated,helmet face shield).Smart!