Tesla Cyber Truck (Most Hideous Truck/Tank Ever)

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Ok, as I said, in my experience. I could argue that 8,000 miles a year is still pretty significant given its an average which means that 50% could be driven 16,000 miles a year and 50% 0 miles. If you own that car you want it to still work.

Again though, the whole thing is just a point of curiosity as to what the intent of Tesla (or any manufacturer) is for long-term vehicles.

One thing they have said for sure is that they are developing the means of recycling the batteries in house. This could take on a forms. They could offer a buy-back option and then keep the batteries intact in some form to refurbish the batteries for resale in a newer car sold at a discounted price, or to use the batteries in a grid storage system, or to use the deconstructed batteries for mining raw materials. The motors could be reused. Refurbished cars might be the cheap new cars. So much is changing so fast, who knows what will happen in another 10 or 20 years.

[p1l0t]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

One thing they have said for sure is that they are developing the means of recycling the batteries in house. This could take on a forms. They could offer a buy-back option and then keep the batteries intact in some form to refurbish the batteries for resale in a newer car sold at a discounted price, or to use the batteries in a grid storage system, or to use the deconstructed batteries for mining raw materials. The motors could be reused. Refurbished cars might be the cheap new cars. So much is changing so fast, who knows what will happen in another 10 or 20 years.

Do you ever wonder how with the press of a button on your phone you end up on the other side of the country?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Tomm]

Not a CT buuut a big competitor for the EV truck world just dropped out:
https://www.businessinsider.com/niko...motors-2020-12

The hotly anticipated Nikola Badger is no more.

General Motors and zero-emissions startup Nikola Motor, whose $2 billion partnership announcement in September predated a series of public relations nightmares for the latter, shared an update on their highly publicized deal this week. Under it, GM will still provide fuel cells for Nikola trucks but won't take a $2 billion stake in the company, while plans for the once-promising all-electric Badger pickup truck are canceled.

The Badger's story closely mirrors the trajectory of Nikola: a thunderous rise to the top and then a precipitous drop to the bottom, mostly over the course of nine months. Making cars is hard!

Great looking EV truck but there's all kinds of controversy surrounding the company...

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Tomm

Not a CT buuut a big competitor for the EV truck world just dropped out:
https://www.businessinsider.com/niko...motors-2020-12



Great looking EV truck but there's all kinds of controversy surrounding the company...

The hardest part is to go from concept to production because you need a factory with a workforce and suppliers and everything. Nikola seemed like a sketchy company looking to capitalize on the EV movement, and even steal some attention with a similar brand name to Tesla. I was shocked to read Lucid Motors is actually starting to sell cars. I thought they were going to just continue to produce concepts and try to gain more money from new investors. I wonder if Rivian will be able to get there too.

[soundman98]

rivian seems like the smartest of the new batch. they bought a pre-existing factory in illinois, and have kept their heads down out of the spotlight except from time to time to show the world what they're still working on bringing a vehicle to the market.

a lot of these other companies have a HAI GUYZ, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE feel

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

I thought they were going to just continue to produce concepts and try to gain more money from new investors. I wonder if Rivian will be able to get there too.

Speaking of that method. Aptera is back as well, if anyone wants an alien podracer kinda car.

Actually, I sort of like it.

https://www.aptera.us/

[soundman98]

every time i see a 3-wheeled vehicle, i think of how much work and effort elio put forth in making them legal all over the place and all but completely folded into a zombie company.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by soundman98

every time i see a 3-wheeled vehicle, i think of how much work and effort elio put forth in making them legal all over the place and all but completely folded into a zombie company.

Most three wheeled vehicles have a single rear vehicle, so they can be registered and regulated as a motorcycle.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Speaking of that method. Aptera is back as well, if anyone wants an alien podracer kinda car.

Actually, I sort of like it.

https://www.aptera.us/

I kind of like it too, in that same alien shuttle pod-thing kind of way.

The company is making some VERY bold claims - such as, an option for 1,000 mile range. That's theoretically possible, but I'd like to see the proof. It seems hard to imagine where the batteries for a 1,000 mile range could fit in such a tiny car.

Saying 'never has to be plugged in', 'powered by the sun' is also a pretty bold claim. The real answer is, it depends. If you live in New Mexico, keep the car outdoors, and drive less than 25 miles a day, it sounds like it could be possible (I saw a calculation to that effect somewhere). But if you live in the Pacific Northwest, or try to use it in Northeast winters, not so much.

That's perfectly OK. Any amount of solar charging is a plus. But I think they erode their own credibility with overly optimistic claims.

I'm sure this will be seen as curmudgeon blasphemy, but I'd actually prefer it if it was IC powered. Or cheaper than the target prices, which will undoubtedly go up if it ever gets to production.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Most three wheeled vehicles have a single rear vehicle, so they can be registered and regulated as a motorcycle.

I don't know if the delta configuration for a 3-wheeler (one front/two rear wheels) is regulated any differently from the reverse trike (tadpole) configuration (two front/one rear wheel) in terms of registering it as a motorcycle. I think most states might call it a motorcycle based on 3 wheels, and maybe not be as picky about the location of the one wheel.

The delta configuration is a lot cheaper to build, since there is only one front wheel doing the steering. That was also the configuration for some of the first 'horseless carriages' back at the dawn of motorized cars.

But the reverse trike configuration (like the Aptera has) is a hell of a lot more stable than the delta. Think about weight transfer and CG in turns. The delta configuration is much more prone to flipping. In a hard turn, a reverse trike will slip and skid the rear wheel, but the delta will roll over.

The old English Reliant Robin was prone to rolling. There's a very funny Top Gear episode that shows how easily they tipped -

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

The company is making some VERY bold claims - such as, an option for 1,000 mile range. .

Most of that claim is based on the aerodynamic efficiency. The first round it was going to be gas powered and they claimed 300MPG. According to their website it has the same drag coefficient as the side mirror on a F150.

That's also where the "charged by the sun" option comes from as it uses little enough power it can charge about 40 miles a day depending on the location. They have an estimator on their website.

Like you say, I'll believe it when we see it.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

I don't know if the delta configuration for a 3-wheeler (one front/two rear wheels) is regulated any differently from the reverse trike (tadpole) configuration (two front/one rear wheel) in terms of registering it as a motorcycle.

It is a motorcycle in the US, and since it is enclosed you aren't required to wear a helmet. It' the same as the Polaris Slingshot and the CanAm Spyder.

Both of those are very stable. No issues when I drove either that I could see.

The biggest drawback, for me anyway, to 3 wheeler's is avoiding things in the road. Basically you can't straddle it like a car, or go around it like a motorcycle.

I know a lot of folks (Ok maybe a half-dozen) that had down payments on the original gas powered one (they did all get their deposits back). I'll have to see if any of them are going to jump on this.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Most three wheeled vehicles have a single rear vehicle, so they can be registered and regulated as a motorcycle.

yes, but elio spearheaded 3-wheeled legislation as autocars. so drivers wouldn't be required to wear a hemet, and things like airbags would still not be needed. it's just ironic that they spent all that time and money doing it, but will likely never make use of it while a ton of other companies do.

this was 2015:
https://jalopnik.com/how-elio-motors...art-1693641243

[Tomm]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

I wonder if Rivian will be able to get there too.

I’m pretty sure Bezos has already placed an order with Rivian so we shall see. I personally like the Atlis truck best but they are only crowd funded right now.