At the Everything Electric South event in Farnborough this year there were many electric vehicles that caught the eye. However, there was one that really stood head and shoulders above the rest when it came to interest. Many people would come to me at the EVision stand to discuss this EV and express their own views. Of course, it is the Tesla Cybertruck that I speak of.
Elon Musk, when not prancing about on stage at Trump rallies in the US, is actually pretty good when it comes to designing and building electric cars. This vehicle, though, is like nothing we have seen before.
Where Did the Tesla Cybertruck Come From?
Ideas for the Tesla Cybertruck can be found as far back as around 2013. Long before the Tesla Model 3 or the Tesla Model Y had come into existence. Musk wanted to design an electric pickup truck, stating that he thought the Ford pickup trucks, most seen in the US, were boring. A new electric truck would be different. It would be a truck with “crazy torque, dynamic air suspension, and corners like it’s on rails”.
The goal for Tesla was ultimately cut into the 6,500 fossil fuel trucks sold every day in the US. They also wanted to make it interesting.
Initial Unveiling and Feedback of the Tesla Cybertruck
2019 was a busy year in the World of Tesla. Both the Model 3 and the Model Y were on the front foot and were being pushed out after lots of anticipation. It was also in 2019 when Elon Musk would release a teaser image of the new truck. What people saw was a vehicle that resembled a futuristic looking armed police vehicle. Later that year, Musk trademarked the name Cybrtrk. However, this name was abandoned soon after.
On the 21st of November 2019, a concept of the Tesla Cybertruck would be unveiled in Musk’s home state of California. It is fair to say that this event did not go according to plan. Musk wanted to demonstrate the bullet proof glass on the truck. Unfortunately, the windows would shatter when an on-stage guest threw small metal balls at them. Although this was explained away by Musk as being due to an earlier demonstration on the truck’s doors with a sledgehammer. All-in-all, it was not a great first look.
Critic comments after the event were also rather scathing. The sharp lines of the Tesla Cybertruck and the weight of the vehicle came under particular scrutiny. Not at all surprising when you release something that is just so different to anything seen before.
What Can the Tesla Cybertruck Actually Do?
Before going into the statistics of the Tesla Cybertruck, it is important to keep in mind that this is a big truck. And by big, I mean REALLY big. Although based on the original Ford F-150 truck, this feels much bigger.
First of all, let’s discuss the claimed range. 340 miles is incredible for many electric cars, never mind a truck that weighs over 3 tonnes. The 123kWh battery certainly helps in this regard. We also find that the Cybertruck is a speedy beast. 0-60 mph can be achieved in just 2.6 seconds. Let that sink in for a bit…
This is a pickup that can also handle the heavy work. Towing capacity is stated to be nearly 5 tonnes, which is insanely good. As you’d expect, the interior is built with premium quality in mind. Technology, again, is also stunning. No one does infotainment quite like Tesla.
Shared Views at Everything Electric of the Tesla Cybertruck
When you get a new vehicle that is so vastly different to what has gone before, there will obviously be mixed reviews. This is what I found when speaking to visitors at the Farnborough event in October. One person, incidentally wearing a Tesla top, was not overly impressed. He felt that the truck was far too big to be practical on the UK streets, plus the shape was not pleasing to him.
On the other hand, however, there were also huge fans in attendance. A couple that I spoke to were highly impressed by the shape of the truck and thought it was a stunning vehicle to look at.
In Conclusion
The Tesla Cybertruck is a marmite electric vehicle if ever there was one. You seem to either love it or hate it. There doesn’t seem to be any middle-ground. What can’t be denied, whichever side you fall on, is the phenomenal performance statistics that Tesla released. A big heavy vehicle such as the Tesla Cybertruck shouldn’t be able to put those numbers up. However, that is exactly what Elon Musk has achieved.
What do you think? Is this a truck that you would drive? Get in touch with us on our social media channels to get a discussion going. We look forward to hearing your views.
*All information correct as of 2 December 2024
