Day 07: Seven Swans a-Swimming | Cybertourdeforce
Part of
12 Days of Christmas - Tesla Edition a series (c) by the Artful Dodger, Dec 2023
Over this Yuletide season, I will post a daily installment focusing on Tesla products, past, present, and future (please note that I will express
major themes as short-hand bullet points, so I can
Yule just in
tide ). Here's the series so far:
Day 01: A Partridge in a Pear Tree | Roadster Proof of Concept
Day 02: 2 Turtle Doves | S/X Fraternal Twins go Mainstream
Day 03: 3 French Hens | Model 3 Bets the Company
Day 04: 4 Calling Birds | Model Y Built at Four Factories
Day 05: Five Golden Rings | Semi Breaks Physiks
Day 06: Six geese a-laying | Megapack To Excel
Intro to Part 7: Cybertourdeforce
Cybertruck (CT) is the embodiment of a dream Elon had many years ago: to build the best truck possible w/o artificial limits ('
physics is the law, everything else is a suggestion'). The vision for CT was to make it a better truck than a Ford F-150, and a better sportscar than a Porsche 911. CT would be the technological tour de force that sets Tesla apart from all other automakers, and firmly establishs them as the innovation leader in the auto industry.
1. First Principles Design
- CT would be the first 21st Century truck - U.S. Market full of 70-yr-olds
- yes, the Ford F-1 pickup debuted 76 years before Cybertruck
- if you took off its bodywork, you'd still recognize the bones beneath
- from aerodynamics to bodywork to powertrain, batteries and electricals, Cybertruck would showcase Tesla engineering prowess in every area
- Elon and his engineers created the best truck they could imagine; if the Market likes it, we'll build two. Or even three.
- CT camps, it swims, its the Official SpaceX Truck of Mars: Do it all, better.
Lesson 1: No compromises, Wave good-bye to the past
2. Shaping the Future - the 7 secrets of the the Cybertruck
- Paintless bodywork - All owners see is shiny stainless steel; all accountants see no billion $ paint shop
- Bullet-resistant - Trucks are supposed to be tuff, but often never leave the pavement and can't take the abuse of a real apocalyse (or worksite)
- 48v low-voltage bus - How to decrease the amount of copper by half, and provide the power demanded by modern electronic accessories
- Steer-by-Wire - Transport aircraft stopped using cables and hydralic lines for control surfaces 5 decades ago, let's bring cars into the present
- 4-wheel-steering - Tame the unmanageable wheelbase, but keep the utility
- Homelink - big battery unused 16 hrs per day, 50 wks/yr? Integrate it with into your home power ecosystem instead
- Range Extender - for those times when you need to tow, baby, tow!
Lesson 2: If you got it, flaunt it (best-of-show)
3. Built it Right: Alien Dreadnaught 2.0
- Tesla believes in automation in the factory as the primary way to increase productivity (which supports both high wages for workers and low prices for customers)
- The Fremont NUMMI factory was inherited from a GM/Toyota joint venture, and was barely suitable for purpose to build the Model 3. Elon called Fremont the Alien Dreadnaught v0.5 (Shanghai is 1.0 and Austin is 2.0)
- Over the few past days, Tesla gave an unprecedented access and an inside look via a hosted tour of the new CT assembly line, specifically showing how sub-assemblies like doors and stampings are made. Sandy Munro, a respected industry stalwart, was agap at what he saw (and published his 2nd half-hour video highlighting what he heard and saw on Nov 30)
- it is extremely telling that Tesla chose this show'n'tell format along with at least 3 other long-form interviews with senior engineers and designers since the Nov 30 Delivery Event (they're like a proud papa showing off CT, baby)
Lesson 3: How to eat an elephant? 1 byte at a time
Conclusion:
Cybertruck represents not only the future of Tesla Manufacturing, but also the future direction of the auto industry. Why the future for the industry? Because Tesla will
drag them along as they go (beginning with NACS, then gigacastings, soon with 48 volt electrics, eventually with FSD safety). If other carmakers are
serious about even having a future, they'll be quick to follow Tesla's lead, which is now
unassailable. Well done, Tesla Team (I knew you had it in you).
Next up: Model 2: Space-age tech brought down to planet Earth (for the masses)
Tomorrow's Topic:
Day 08: Eight Maids a-Milking | Model 2 World Car
