Is the Cyber Truck a Flop?

[WinterDeere]

I think the cyber truck's outward appearance hinders its acceptance. The design is for a niche that for the most part can't afford it
And if that is such a great design why don't his cars look the same? Because they are very popular....

Agreed. The appearance keeps me from even looking at one, and I'm not particularly opposed to EV's. Heck, I even like the Rivian, but would be hesitant to drop that much money on a brand that could very likely go away during my ownership period. Anyone try to buy parts for a Saturn or an Oldsmobile, recently?

Trailer hitch receivers that fall off also kill the deal for me, since I use my pickup as my primary tow vehicle. It's hard to understand how Tesla screwed that one up, so badly.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'll take one of these with 3 pedals...

 

[Fixastuff]

Huh.....

I think he’s saying you constantly cover the forum in stank. lol. His words not mine

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm repeating myself. If the Ford Lightning ever becomes a serious option, I might buy one. Not having an engine under the hood, but using that space for a lockable truck is a game changer for me. As a contractor, an 8 foot bed isn't enough storage for me. Especially when doing demo!!! I have tools inside my truck, but there is never enough room. I put tool boxes on the passenger seat too.

If it had a reliable range, and I could charge it home and avoid going to the gas station, and it could haul a full load of debris, it would be a very tempting work truck. I don't see Tesla doing any of those things that I need, and Ford is the only one that seems to have this idea in mind. They just haven't passed the test on actually working properly. If they stick with it, they should be able to figure it out. The next question would be if I could afford it or not?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'm repeating myself. If the Ford Lightning ever becomes a serious option, I might buy one. Not having an engine under the hood, but using that space for a lockable truck is a game changer for me. As a contractor, an 8 foot bed isn't enough storage for me. Especially when doing demo!!! I have tools inside my truck, but there is never enough room. I put tool boxes on the passenger seat too.

If it had a reliable range, and I could charge it home and avoid going to the gas station, and it could haul a full load of debris, it would be a very tempting work truck. I don't see Tesla doing any of those things that I need, and Ford is the only one that seems to have this idea in mind. They just haven't passed the test on actually working properly. If they stick with it, they should be able to figure it out. The next question would be if I could afford it or not?

?

 

[5030]

2 key aspects of ANY pure electric powered truck is 1. Useable range and 2. Purchase cost.

Until the useable LOADED range becomes substantial and cost gets manageable, I don't see them being widely accepted.

Having said that, battery technology is advancing rapidly so the useable loaded range should improve. The question is and always will be, affordability.

 

[5030]

I think he’s saying you constantly cover the forum in stank. lol. His words not mine

Really, glad he's not my neighbor... Forums are all about opinions and if my opinion don't jibe with his, I could care less and if he don't like my opinion, he can always put me on ignore. Simple solution I'd say.

 

[ning]

Other that providing a way for investors to make $$, and to kick other auto makers in the pants, Tesla has no reason to exist.

An electric motor in a car is nothing more than a line-item option. Check one box: Gas, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric. Now pick the color, choose your interior trim package, etc. It doesn't even justify a specific car model, let along a whole company. There is nothing to prevent every car manufacturer from offering electric versions of their cars. Oh, wait, they are already doing that. You don't see specific car models because they have an automatic transmission rather than a manual transmission. And you surely don't see a whole car company built around offering automatic transmissions.

All the feedback I get from people who have owned Teslas is that they are fundamentally crappy cars. Lots of problems, and cheap construction. Electric, yes. But otherwise crap. Other companies are underselling their forecasts of electric cars. That speaks to real market demand. The only reason Tesla is selling more is because it's a fashion statement. A way for indulgent people to green-wash themselves. It's for 1%ers to demonstrate their greenness.

Manual transmissions go in the same slot of a car as an automatic, and overall aren't significantly different in size and shape. Same with gas vs diesel in the same power class - goes in the same place, similar(ish) size.

There's a significant difference between ICE and EV powertrains: the EV battery is frikken huge and heavy - full EV batteries can top a TON in weight. This matters to construction because you don't just say "well we don't need that 600# (6 liter gas) / 1000# (diesel) up front, drop the battery there!". The good thing about batteries is that you can either split them up or make them fairly flat, which gives better weight distribution (EV batteries are often placed under the floor between the two axles, which keeps the center of mass low and close to 50/50). Also, EV motors don't need to be at one end of the power train, and they're very compact and light; it's common for EVs to have one motor in front and one in back.

Finally, ICE engines need a cooling system that's significantly bigger and different than EVs.

You could make a vehicle design that allows either type of powertrain (ICE/EV), but it would likely have some serious compromises in either configuration.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'll take one of these with 3 pedals...View attachment 2396631View attachment 2396632View attachment 2396633

Looks fun. But for 6am every morning, I like my remote start, auto-defrost, heated seats, and heated steering wheel. Also, you will need to pry the backup camera out of my cold, dead hands, I will never go back to the days of lining up a ball under a hitch without one.

 

[5030]

Hard to fault remote start on a cold morning for sure plus the heated seats and steering wheel.

Far as lining up the ball with the receiver, never been an issue here as I pull a GN trailer.