1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Featured Tesla Truck

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Ronald Doles, Nov 22, 2019.

  1. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,775
    4,372
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That would be a super fun way to plow parking lots, that's for sure... With all that torque...
     
    TGrracie and smilyme like this.
  2. I suppose you could do the crash test by running the Cybertruck into the belly of Chuck Norris...
     
    TGrracie likes this.
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,775
    4,372
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Crumple zone engineering will be much different for higher quality steel, that's for sure...
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Not to mention chuck
     
    TGrracie and Dimitrij like this.
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The energy absorbed is the product of the force over the distance:
    • high resistance over short distance is one.
    • medium resistance over distance is another
    • low resistance over longer distance is the third
    If one wants to absorb collision energy, all three have to be evaluated.

    Bob Wilson
     
  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,775
    4,372
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yea, and when he states 3mm thick stainless steel "skin" that sounds good for "high resistance over short distance" but the engineering for the other two... That still remains to be understood... No crumple zones of thinner metal means passengers absorb way more force and end up dead at much lower than the 40mph max threshold cars are required to be crash designed for, so they have a plan for that, just don't know what it is yet... Or maybe because it's a truck there's a lower standard?
     
    William Redoubt likes this.
  7. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,527
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    First plan - don't crash at high speed. Auto braking and electronic nannies will help.
    Second plan - air bags, seat belts, etc.
    Third plan - crumple zones - which should be safer than a truck with an engine getting pushed toward the passengers.

    Her it is in the model 3
    Model 3 achieves the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA | Tesla

    and in the not quite as good model S
    How the Huge Crumple Zone on Tesla's Model S Just Saved 5 Lives | Fortune

    If that stainless monoque is damaged in a crash it will likely be more expensive to repair than a traditional body on frame truck, but its likely the driver and possible passengers will be safer from injury. The truck at least by eye looks a little more cab forward than the model 3, that along with higher weight will likely make it a little less safe, but higher seating position may help avoid accidents when not using the active safety systems in the truck.
     
    #127 austingreen, Nov 29, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2019
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    We'll have to wait for the experiment to complete. It is possible that the replacement parts are already formed and more affordable than the 'usual suspects.' Let's wait a bit before speculation.

    Bob Wilson
     
    austingreen likes this.
  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,775
    4,372
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    And impact greater than 40mph is going to kill
    Not really... If you know how to weld stainless steel, it's real easy. you just use a cutting torch to cut out the bent stuff then weld a new piece in place, then smooth out the welds a little and you're done. No need for anything more than that! No paint matching, no bondo, no nothing... Super easy... Of course if you want it to look like brand new, then you aren't buying a truck for the right reason.
     
    bwilson4web likes this.
  10. JosephG

    JosephG Active Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2018
    114
    101
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Regarding safety, it's likely the vehicle shown would run into trouble with the EU's pedestrian safety regulators. Realistically, the truck will be heavily redesigned before production, at a minimum it will need a new steering wheel, side mirrors, and a new front bumper. I expect the lights will be redesigned as well.
     
    Zythryn likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    the design is probably already finished, but who would want to show that at an unveiling?
     
  12. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Tesla’s products tend to be pretty close to the prototypes.
    However, this design would be really nasty on pedestrians. At least, that is my guess.

    It will be interesting to see the European safety tests on the production version.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    why is the design bad for pedestrians?
     
    WilDavis likes this.
  14. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    ‘The European tests include a test for how much damage a pedestrian would take from being struck by the vehicle.
    The front of the Cybertruck looks to be almost flat with a very sharp angle between the front and top of the hood. I haven’t run any tests obviously, but by the looks of it, any collision with a pedestrian is going to be very bad for the pedestrian.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    interesting. doesnt seem that different than a lot of cars.
     
  16. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2016
    1,215
    1,164
    1
    Location:
    Coronado Island, California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What you saw on stage is a prototype. It will never make it to market in that state. What an embarrassment.
     
  17. JosephG

    JosephG Active Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2018
    114
    101
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Most new cars have a plastic bumper and a malleable hood so the head is protected in a pedestrian crash (cheapo sheet metal works fine). Some vehicles also have explosives or airbags to inflate the hood so it can cushion the impact if there's not clearance under the hood.

    Pretty different from solid stainless steel. The angular transition from bumper to hood also will probably have to go.
     
    #137 JosephG, Dec 1, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2019
  18. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I'm not aware that markets with strong, pedestrian safety regs are hotbeds of pickup truck sales. Regardless, I like the idea of an EU variant with a front overlay with air bags and comfy chair cushions.

    Bob Wilson
     
  19. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,775
    4,372
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    They're well aware of what needs to be added, but the defiance of regulators is what Tesla does when they introduce a new vehicle. When it comes time to get the Vin#s they'll have complied with such legally required things as: side lights, side rear mirrors, a real steering wheel, more complex bumper design, etc..

    As for an embarrassment, I suspect the tables will be turned a decade from now when all the people who hated how it looked when it was introduced are finally the ones being embarrassed because other truck makers are copying the design concept in order to get back the market share they lost to it.

    This is a truck with a coefficient of drag similar to passenger cars at .30, which is a great leap forward in efficient use of energy compared to a big dumb truck with an average coefficient of drag up in the .60 level, which means the truck has much greater range on less energy than other electric trucks it will be competing with.
     
  20. drash

    drash Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    2,439
    1,216
    0
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I know personally people that ordered it and couldn’t wait to show me. They think it’s the most futuristic looking vehicle they know was the reason they ordered it. They also know I had one of the first Prius around here which is the reason they couldn’t wait to show me.

    You sure .60 is all it is? Ha ha ha some of the noses I’ve seen on some trucks looked like they could plow snow with it.


    iPad ? Pro