While browsing YouTube I came across an ICE teardown. I got lightheaded watching all those many bolts, hoses, cables, seals, gaskets, and accessories get removed, piece by piece, down to the block.
It made me think about the CyberTruck (and Teslas in general) having a much simpler powertrain, and how that would affect longevity. Teslas will have a longer practical lifespan (and lower maintenance) over ICE vehicles, but what would a complete overhaul of an old and worn CyberTruck look like?
It made me think about the CyberTruck (and Teslas in general) having a much simpler powertrain, and how that would affect longevity. Teslas will have a longer practical lifespan (and lower maintenance) over ICE vehicles, but what would a complete overhaul of an old and worn CyberTruck look like?
- Body - stainless should be good forever. Plastics will degrade over the decades, depending on the environment
- Battery - newer Teslas modules should be good for 300,000+ miles with minimal degradation, and future battery tech will be very different
- Brakes - minimal wear on pads/rotors due to regen, but seals and hoses will degrade over time like any other vehicle
- Motors - how many miles before a DC motor wears out? Can they even be serviced?
- Bearings - axle bearings should be good for decades. The half-shafts have rubber boots with a finite lifespan
- Air suspension - the bladders are probably good for 100k miles or 10 years
- Heat Pump - similar to A/C in any other vehicle, although this also functions as thermal management for the drivetrain. Hoses should be good for decades, the compressor will need regular replacement (100k miles?)
- Computer - Not user-serviceable. Lifespan…?
- Touchscreen - LED screens in harsh conditions have a poor service record, but replaceable
- Software - at what point does Tesla stop issuing software updates, and would aged software eventually doom the vehicle?