On January 13, 2019, around one year before the public reveal of the Tesla Cybertruck, I published a story called 5 Reasons the Tesla Pickup Will Be Epic.
A. Predicting Tesla
The article was full of analysis and predictions. Some people unfamiliar with Tesla said it sounded like SciFi. Now it’s reality. How typically … Tesla-rific!
Here are the 5 reasons I thought the truck would be epic (& some of the predictions I made). With the exception of one prediction, I stand by each & every one of the predictions from January.
A1. Mars
- The Tesla Truck represents an ideal rover platform for Mars;
- Tesla Truck could potentially be pressurized;
- Tesla Truck will have full-submersibility. As in, Tesla Pickup = Tesla Yacht = Tesla Submarine = Tesla Submersible.
A2. Tesla > ICE
- To shut up coal-rolling ICErs, Tesla will deliver epic performance:
- 20,000lb+ towing capacity; 1,000+ horsepower; fastest-in-class (unloaded 0–60 in <5s; mid-loaded 0–60 in <10s); longest-lasting; safest; etc.
A3. Modularity
- Tesla Truck chassis will be modular, so that it’s easy to make Tesla Sprinter conversions, Tesla Tow-Trucks, Tesla Toy-Haulers, TeslaRVs, etc.
A4. Hyperutility
- Full self-driving
- Order-of-magnitude utility gains — measured in terms of raw power output and/or longevity and/or safety and/or range, and so on.
A5. Competition
- 2020 MSRP < $50K (fully equipped);
- True 4x4 (+ locking CFR diffs);
- Short-bed & long-bed (short & long wheelbase);
- Easy truck-bed removal;
- Production winch/rally bumpers (front and rear);
- High wheel travel;
- Simple, swappable, suspension setup;
- Built-in solar charging (including support for subsequent scaling & expansion);
- Excellent off-grid-ability (long range and enough power for high voltage power tools in remote applications)
- Easy bumper/fender removal/upgrading (without impacting road sensors, airbag sensors, etc.);
- Underbody armor that de facto serves as sliders, skid plates, etc;
Let’s take stock, so that we see where the specs are going.
In other words, if we knew back in January ’19 what would be announced in November ‘19, we might be able to predict in November ’19 what we’ll get in our driveways come … January ‘22! (Cybertruck production will begin in late 2021 → deliveries soon after).
But first, a riddle as a little mind-teaser:
B. Nailed It!
B1. Cybertruck = #MarsTruck
B2. #ElectricTruck = #ICETruck
B3. #TeslaTruck = Modular
Want more modularity? Got your back:
B4. Tesla Truck = Hyperutility Truck
B5. Tesla Truck v. Competition
Want more competition? Here you are:
If you need it (eg, to replace a dirty petrol car) & can afford it and you haven’t ordered a Cybertruck yet, what are you waiting for?
C. What’s Next?
Tesla should really hire this Sam Lee character to help develop the Tesla Camper/Biodome. :)
A modular and foldable weather-proof habitat is as useful for families on Earth as it is for Martians.
It’d be a dream to work on this design for the next two to five years.
I’ve already been working on it since January 2019:
November 25, 2019: I’ll be updating the tables as more specs & details come in, so pls check in for updates. Until that time, some Cybertruck dreams. :)
