Tesla Cybertruck Facts for Kids (2024)

The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery electric full-size pickup truck built by Tesla, Inc. since 2023. Introduced as a concept vehicle in November 2019, it features a triangular body design with flat sheet metal panels made of stainless steel.

As of December 2023, the Cybertruck is available only in North America. Three models are offered: the tri-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) "Cyberbeast", a dual-motor AWD model, and a rear-wheel drive (RWD) model, with EPA range estimates of 250–340 miles (400–550km), varying by model.

Design

Inspiration

According to Musk, the design of the Cybertruck was inspired by Blade Runner and "Wet Nellie", the Lotus Esprit driven by James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, which doubled as a submarine. Like most vehicles, the Cybertruck can float for short periods of time, although controlled travel in water is unlikely.

Range, battery, and charging

Dual motor all-wheel drive is specified with an estimated range of 340mi (550km), while Cyberbeast models have a range of 320mi (510km). On November 30, 2023, an RWD model with a range of 250mi (400km) was announced for delivery in 2025.

The Cybertruck has an 816V nominal, 150Ah structural battery pack with a maximum capacity of 123kWh. The pack serves as a structural member and is composed of 4680 lithium-ion battery cells; with a stated energy density of 170Wh/kg for the entire pack, the overall battery pack weight is approximately 720kg (1,590lb).

The battery is claimed to charge at a maximum rate of 350kW at charging stations capable of supplying 800VDC power. Tesla claims that up to 128 or 136mi (206 or 219km) (tri-motor or dual-motor versions, respectively) of range can be added in 15 minutes of charging at 400VDC. The onboard charger can accept AC power at a maximum rate of 11.5kW at 240V, 48A.

Range extender

The dual-motor and tri-motor configurations can be ordered with a "range extender" option, which adds a 50kWh battery to the vehicle. The battery occupies approximately 1⁄3 of the truck bed and increases range by 120–130mi (190–210km). It is intended for long trips or towing heavy things up mountains.

Vehicle-provided power

Main page: Tesla Powershare

Cybertruck offers up to 9.6kW of vehicle-to-load (V2L) continuous AC power through five outlets:

• Four 120V 20A outlets (NEMA 5-20), two in the bed and two in the cabin
• One 240V 40A outlet (NEMA 14-50) in the bed

In addition, Cybertruck also supports up to 11.5kW AC output for vehicle-to-home (V2H), or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging. A Tesla Wall Connector and either a Tesla Gateway or Powerwall are required to enable bidirectional loads to a home.

Powershare in Cybertruck does not directly support vehicle-to-grid (V2G) supply due to regulations for feeding power to the grid.

Mid-voltage electrical system

The Cybertruck uses an 48-volt electrical system; this 48V DC is fed to electric-powered components including steering actuators, oil pumps at the drive units, window regulator motors, wiper motor, accessory power feed to the frunk (400W) and to the roof (400W), three domain controllers ECUs, and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery.

Interior

The Cybertruck has five seats, two in the front and a three-seat bench in the back row. The vehicle has a 18.5in (47cm) touch-screen display in the front for most of the climate, media, and vehicle controls. The vehicle also contains a 9.4in (24cm) touch-screen for the rear seat passengers.

The Cybertruck has a steering wheel in the shape of a "squircle" (combination of a square and a circle), with a flat top and bottom, and round sides.

Cargo bed

The cargo bed is 72in (1,800mm) long and 48in (1,200mm) wide. It has a motorized roller shutter style tonneau cover enclosing a storage area of 67cuft (1.9m³). The cargo bed has sloped side walls.

When the tonneau is closed, it covers the rear window, blocking rear visibility. This is resolved by front and rear-facing cameras to aid visibility when reversing, parking, and towing. In the bed area there are LED light strips along each side, a storage area below the main floor behind the rear wheels, and 120 and 240V AC outlets.

Network

The Cybertruck uses a central, bi-directional gigabit Etherloop network with CAN bus satellite networks to operate vehicle systems. The result is that data travels over the same network, as opposed to traditional CAN bus systems which require individual connections, reducing the amount of wiring in the vehicle. Audio travels over the same network, eliminating the need for audio-specific wiring. For comparison, while the number of endpoints increased 50% over the Model 3, the amount of cross-vehicle wiring was reduced by two-thirds.

Safety concerns

The Cybertruck's angular design and stiff stainless-steel exterior have raised concerns among safety experts that it could hurt pedestrians and cyclists and damage other vehicles on roads. Particular concerns have been raised about the high stiffness of the "exoskeleton" exterior, potentially reducing crumple zones. The tall, flat front of the truck may increase the severity of pedestrian leg injuries.

Tesla has defended the design, saying that the structures of the truck would absorb an impact during a crash. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a social media post that he was "highly confident" the Cybertruck would be safer than other trucks for occupants and pedestrians. The Cybertruck had passed U.S. regulatory review according to Musk.

See also

In Spanish: Tesla Cybertruck para niños