TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

Trimotor vs dual motor?

Discussion in 'Cybertruck' started by coolmanfever, Jun 16, 2020.

  1. coolmanfever

    coolmanfever Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2019
    Messages:
    479
    Location:
    toronto
    what advantage does tri motor have over dual motor besides longer range, faster acceleration, towing more weight? Seem like price jump to tri from dual is significant. Is it worth it for everyday drive to work on highway and occasional road trip and hauling heavy load?
     
  2. Luke42

    Luke42 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2016
    Messages:
    48
    Location:
    Urbana, Illinois
    The range is the reason I changed my reservation to the tri-motor version.

    I don't really care about the extra power. But I plan to tow an RV with my CT, the extra range means that the CT will do everything can imagine doing with a personal vehicle for the next 20 years or so.

    Between the rumored million mile battery and the stainless steel body, I can easily see driving this for 20 or 30 years. It's ugly AF, but it should age like a stainless steel Jeep.

    With those assumptions, paying extra for the long range seems reasonable.
     
    • Like x 2
  3. Hank42

    Hank42 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2012
    Messages:
    514
    Location:
    United States - NY
    I'm torn on this myself. My commute for CT is 350 miles - Just out of reach of the 300 mile range of the dual motor. I need the CT for the payload capacity, and the ability to drive on dirt roads - and un-plowed snow roads in the winter, but I don't need the extra speed/towing capacity of the tri-motor CT.
    The time spent at the Supercharger each way to make up the 100 miles of added range is going to wear on me, I 'm sure.

    I'm in the "wait and see" category - there may be other features for added cost that are "must have" that would put the price of the tri-motor way out of the ballpark for me, enough so that it's worth the wait at the supercharger to make up the difference.

    I'm currently using NOA (not full FSD) and it makes that drive a breeze. Who knows, maybe paying the extra $$ for FSD with the dual motor will make up the difference - I think FSD+tri-motor would price me out.
     
  4. dazedNconfuzed

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2020
    Messages:
    176
    Location:
    GA
    yup.
    Just did TCO on my basic 2006 Explorer after it burned up at 240,000 miles (and I’d have driven it to ½M if possible). ~$87,000 including gas. Makes the CT look cheap at max configuration.

    “M’lady, I want a vehicle so ugly and hard/annoying to drive you’ll never want to use it.” And there it is, right down to the marital discord refund promise.
     
  5. Watts 4 Me

    Watts 4 Me Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Messages:
    335
    Location:
    H-town
    By the time the CT comes out i believe it will be in upper 300 mile range.

    Base model is 250 miles
    Dual model is 300+ miles
    Tri model is 500+ miles
    Per Elon at the unveil
     
  6. T.R.T.e.s.l.a.

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2018
    Messages:
    460
    Location:
    LX
    This is exactly why i did the same.
     
  7. wizznick

    wizznick Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2020
    Messages:
    14
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Just recently switched from dual to tri this week. 500+ mile range is a game changer for me, given distance away from common vacation spots or where family is located.
     
  8. Saghost

    Saghost Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    8,216
    Location:
    Delaware
    I think you’ve mostly captured it. The other advantage it will have is the ability to do torque vectoring for advanced traction/stability control, but we don’t know how much Tesla will implement that or how much difference it will make.

    But your “other than” list is pretty much all the things most folks want in a truck...

    You’ll have to decide what is worth the money for you.
     
  9. Lasttoy

    Lasttoy Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2017
    Messages:
    1,560
    Location:
    St Augustine, Fl
    I cant find any other reason than mileage. My S was 250 miles new. So I'm happy with 250. I dont "need" more motors, I'm very happy with my S. I'm replacing my S, SUV, and PU with the CT.
    But my question is. Do all 3 models have the same electronic gadgetry?. FIRST. AP, AND AIR SUSPENSION.. standard
    But, what are the options list? I cant find the option list?
    Also, I hope Elon delivers by our order date and not the 3 motor first, then 2 then 1 motor. This will be really bad Karma.
     
  10. Saghost

    Saghost Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    8,216
    Location:
    Delaware
    There are no definitive answers, and won’t be for another year probably.

    I’ll be shocked if they ship any vehicles without the full current suite of AP hardware, but the rest is up in the air.

    Tesla has always delivered the higher specification cars first, and I’ll be surprised if they change that now. It’s a lot easier to iron out issues on the production line if they only build one configuration at first, and that one gives them the most profit while they are sorting things out.
     
  11. dazedNconfuzed

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2020
    Messages:
    176
    Location:
    GA
    The options list is:

    ◽️Dual motor
    ◽️Tri motor
    ◽️FSD

    That’s it. (For now.)
     
  12. azjohn

    azjohn Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    320
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Somewhere down the line I believe the dual motor CT will have an option of the larger battery pack
     
  13. Zer0t

    Zer0t Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2012
    Messages:
    376
    Location:
    Monmouth County, NJ
    I ordered tri-motor primarily because of the range but the acceleration doesn’t suck either.
     
  14. Lasttoy

    Lasttoy Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2017
    Messages:
    1,560
    Location:
    St Augustine, Fl
    Ranger told me all battery packs will be the same. Range is software programmed. He thinks we will able to upgrade for $$$$, as the 60 folks did.
     
  15. Saghost

    Saghost Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    8,216
    Location:
    Delaware
    Tesla certainly could do that, and who knows how they’ll set up something we won’t see until next year, but I’d be shocked if they did.

    While Tesla has been doing a good job of driving costs down, the battery pack is undoubtedly still the most expensive part of an EV, and those 500 mile packs are going to be huge, probably around 150 kWh.

    The difference between that and the base pack is likely an entire Model Y battery pack. That’s an awful lot of cost to throw in to the base trucks for the minimal advantage of reduced unit count and design time.
     
    • Like x 1
  16. Hank42

    Hank42 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2012
    Messages:
    514
    Location:
    United States - NY
    Yeah, the added weight and inherent lower efficiency of the CT makes hitting those range targets needing larger packs.

    On the other hand, They might be able to write off the extra capacity as "potential income" on the books and do some financial trickery to get a write down or favorable press on wall street. I'd believe that more if batter production capacity weren't so strained.
     
  17. ThomasD

    ThomasD Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2019
    Messages:
    827
    Location:
    florida
    If this truck doesn't come with tow mirrors and it just has side cameras. Hopefully the cameras will be able to move up and down and telescope in and out
     
  18. SuperDragon

    SuperDragon Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    United States
    tri>

    500+ and 2.9 0-60 is a game changer
     
    • Like x 1
  19. Saghost

    Saghost Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    8,216
    Location:
    Delaware
    I'm hoping to see more out of the box thinking by Tesla here - like maybe rechargeable wireless camera modules you can quickly and easily attach to the sides of the trailer itself looking aft that quickly calibrate and integrate into the AP processing and screen views.
     
    • Like x 2
  20. SuperDragon

    SuperDragon Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    United States
    I wonder if there will be any type of fifth wheel hitch.

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC