In Automotive School? What You’ll Want to Know About the Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla’s hotly anticipated electric truck, the Cybertruck, will finally go into production sometime in 2023, after a series of delays. The EV, developed to provide competition for rollouts from Ford and Rivian Automotive, promises to turn the market on its head, provided Tesla can smooth out the logistical issues that have derailed it up to now.
With over 1.5 million pre-orders, it’s safe to say that the Cybertruck is already making huge waves, so much so that the company has had to stop taking pre-orders from outside North America. Here, we’ll look at what you might expect from the Cybertruck and what such an overwhelming uptake might mean for those currently undergoing automotive training.
The Cybertruck WIll Offer Between 400 to 800 km of Electric Range
Tesla plans to produce four models of the Cybertruck, with engine capacity expected to be the main difference between each. Buyers can choose between models with a single-motor RWD, a dual-motor AWD, a Tri-motor AWD, or a Quad-motor AWD. The single-motor AWD will offer an estimated range of over 400 km on a single charge. Those are not particularly high numbers, which perhaps explains why this model is the least pre-ordered at the moment.
However, things improve further up the chain. Dual-motor and Tri-motor models are projected to provide 480 km to 800 km of range. With battery technology improving as impressively as it currently is, the increased range from the Cybertruck cannot be discounted.
Those in automotive training should note that, performance-wise, the Cybertruck is no slouch. Single-motor RWD models can reach 100km/h from a standstill in just 6.5 seconds. Tri-motor models will reach that speed in about 2.9 seconds.
Large Batteries and Fast Charging
The Cybertruck will be powered by Tesla’s flagship 4680 batteries. Tesla has touted these batteries as some of the most cost and energy-effective options available. Still, a failure to scale-up production of the in-house batteries may force the company to switch to more available options.
Such a large battery will require superfast charging technology if downtimes are to be manageable. In consideration of this fact, Tesla is looking at the possibility of an 800-volt system to ramp up the fast-charging abilities of the batteries. With an estimated peak power of 324 kW, Tesla’s V3 Supercharger raises the bar and addresses concerns about the Cybertruck’s power management.
What Are the Implications of the Cybertruck’s Production for Those in Hybrid and Electrical Mechanic Training?
The overwhelming number of pre-orders for the Cybertruck is not an outlier; it’s indicative of the shifting attitude towards electric trucks in the country. The trucking industry in Canada is huge, and electric trucks are beginning to join the action spurred by improved battery and charging infrastructure. As can be imagined, the increased uptake of electric vehicles only bodes well for people with hybrid and electrical mechanic training. There probably has never been a better time to be an electric truck mechanic than now.
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