Tesla's electric pick-up continues to burn stages in its current development, pre-production phase. The Cybertruck is currently in a series of cold weather tests in New Zealand with its already famous vinyl camouflage covering.
Over the last year and a half we've discovered the Tesla Cybertruck in a multitude of different scenarios and circumstances; the first electric pick-up of the house is posing an interesting challenge for engineers and designers. The development team has not completed the last phases of testing yet: no other Tesla model has actually been subjected to so many stress tests. Right now it is clocking up kilometers in extremely cold conditions in the southern hemisphere, more specifically New Zealand. The Austinites tried to escape from all prying eyes around, but it has been impossible to actually escape paparazzies: thanks to this, we have been able to discover a part of the Cybertruck that had not been seen up until now.
The promises made by Elon Musk a few years ago are causing real headaches for the team assigned to the Cybertruck. Everyone has high hopes for the biggest and most extraordinary car that Tesla has ever brought to market. Its technical specifications are - at the moment - a real unknown, but it is clear that the developers are striving to fulfill the promises. Never before have we seen a Tesla product meet such a demanding schedule of tests and technical checks.
Many times before the Cybertruck was seen in controlled environments, such as the various test circuits installed next to the company's factories; we have also seen it during tests on open roads. With its size, it is impossible for the Cybertruck to hide in plain sight, much less since a 'camouflaged' prototype appeared on the scene a few days ago with much less flashy vinyl. That same unit is the one that seems to have crossed the Pacific Ocean to land in New Zealand; the vinyl used is apparently the same.
The photos were published on the CybertruckOwnersClub forum, and immediately the images went around the world since it is the first time that the Cybertruck reveals its huge open front trunk. Referred to as “frunk”, many new-generation EVs offer a front cargo space that's especially useful in a drop-bed pickup where it's rather unsafe to leave stuff. In a way, it looks like the Ford F-150 Lightning, both in opening and capacity; but for sure there are some more secrets we haven't seen yet.
In very recent times the Cybertruck has become a source of controversy due to some rather controversial statements by Jim Farley, CEO of Ford. The main executive of the company criticized the electric pick-up by calling it a "great ornament"; he basically believes that Tesla's work does not correspond to the usual needs of “real” truck owners. Designed to work, not only should its performance figures be taken into account, but also its qualities as a work tool. At Ford they think the Cybertruck was designed for Silicon Valley people, “ḧigh-tech geeks”, that is: a great product to be parked outside a hotel, but that won't work for the most demanding “real life” jobs.
Time will tell who is actually right. In the meantime, the Tesla team continues to push the boundaries and fine-tune the Cybertruck in various test scenarios to uphold Elon Musk's ambitious promises. As more specifications and capabilities of the electric pick-up are unveiled, the debate surrounding its functionality and practicality will slowly be resolved. Ultimately, Tesla needs to ensure that the Cybertruck not only caters to an exclusive, high-tech demographic, but also addresses the practical demands of everyday truck users and those using it for commercial purposes.
As the deadline for the Cybertruck's release approaches, the pressure is mounting on the development team. The coming months will likely see more reveals about the innovative electric pick-up, sparking greater public interest and potentially proving its worth in a market that is traditionally defined by conventional gas-guzzling vehicles. The transition to electric alternatives is not only essential for environmental sustainability but also has the potential to create a new era of versatile, powerful, and efficient pick-ups, redefining industry expectations.
Source: cybertruckownersclub
Nico Caballero specializes in Data Analytics and solar energy. He also holds a Diploma in Electric Cars from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and enjoys doing research about Tesla and EV batteries. He can be reached at @NicoTorqueNews on Twitter. Nico covers Tesla and electric vehicle latest happenings at Torque News.