Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs • Hacker News Board

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#551

Post by czbond » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:55 AM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #455

taurath wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like it already has limited social value except as a sort of MAGA hat for Elon. I predict it’ll have some rabid adherents but also develop a reputation as a vehicle for assholes - already in a lot of circles the Tesla brand has a negative association due to Elon behaving like a nepo bully.

I've seen a lot of Teslas around the Bay Area with bumper stickers that say "I got this before Elon went crazy".

Gotta virtue signal! I don't know Elon's views - nor do I care.

I drive a Jeep - and couldn't care less about the executive's political views & wouldn't be insecure enough to place it on a bumper sticker.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#552

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:56 AM UTC

fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #510

oooyay wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The cheapest F150 Lightning (available today not in 2025) is $50k (vs $60k for Cybertruck), same 250 mile range but AWD standard, and is a regular pickup truck compatible with standard accessories and parts for doing actual pickup truck work. I'd like to nitpick "doing actual pickup truck work". The Lightning gets terrible mileage, to the tune of roughly 100 miles on a charge, while hauling which ICE trucks do not…

My friend who’s in landscaping drives a basic F150 with an 8-ft bed. The payload capacity on his truck is less than the base Lightning. Usually he’s bringing a bunch of tools back there, and depending on the job might be carrying plants, mulch etc. In cases where he has to haul more (eg. clearing out a huge amount of overgrown plants) he might rent a utility trailer to tow. Which the Lightning is also perfectly capab…

[deleted]

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#553

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:57 AM UTC

maximus-decimus wrote: post #256

I like how it looks and I find it weird people seem to believe that their opinion is absolute truth and that anybody who doesn't hate it is wrong. What I found the most surprising is that implies people don't actually believe cars on the road right now are ugly. Do people really look at SUVs and think "wow, is that thing pretty?"

[deleted]

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#554

Post by philwelch » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:57 AM UTC

maximus-decimus wrote: post #256

I like how it looks and I find it weird people seem to believe that their opinion is absolute truth and that anybody who doesn't hate it is wrong. What I found the most surprising is that implies people don't actually believe cars on the road right now are ugly. Do people really look at SUVs and think "wow, is that thing pretty?"

Current SUV’s are crossover monstrosities. The 1996 Ford Explorer in forest green was absolutely beautiful. Nobody makes vehicles in forest green anymore. It’s sad.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#555

Post by giobox » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:59 AM UTC

whelp_24 wrote: post #153

liminalsunset wrote: post #96

Seems like there's been relatively less attention on the 48V/800V architecture and the Ethernet comms/steer by wire setup, but I think those are what make this particular vehicle quite interesting. Up until recently I think 48V power electronics have been fairly rare outside of telecom/other high cost situations, but I suppose one major difference is that at 48V, transformer-based DC-DC conversion is usually a better…

why do steer by wire at all? Is it cheaper somehow?

Allows you to vary the steering ratio dynamically (how many "turns" lock to lock). Means a lot less arm twiddling during lower speed maneuvers, and can gradually increase the ratio as speed increases. Traditional mechanically linked steering racks (electric or hydraulic) don't do this and are the same number of turns lock to lock regardless of speed - they can only dynamically vary the amount of power assist, not the ratio. It's been something car manufacturers have wanted to do for a while.

Another benefit in theory is packaging - you can free up more space for cabin, front trunk or motors etc when you don't have to route a physical steering column.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#556

Post by pjot » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:59 AM UTC

er4hn wrote: post #435

shampine wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably referring to a section 179 deduction which gives you a $25k deduction on your taxable income for vehicles that weigh more than 6000lbs.

aka the Benz AMG exception: https://www.mbotw.com/section-179-tax-exemption/

Brb, about to start “Get a Free Truck, LLC.”

Wow.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#557

Post by rvz » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 1:59 AM UTC

jessehattabaugh wrote: post #5

No thanks, I'm reserving an Alpha Wolf https://www.alphamotorinc.com/vehiclereservation

Looks like a cinema render prototype toy from some unknown random company.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#558

Post by saalweachter » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 2:00 AM UTC

llm_nerd wrote: post #61

ugh123 wrote: post #8

How come the "Cyberbeast" model has the same 11k lbs Towing Capacity as the "All Wheel Drive" version ($30k cheaper)? The Cyberbeast has significantly more Torque at 10,296 lb-ft vs. "All Wheel Drive" at 7,435

I apologize for adding to a load of already good answers, but towing capacity is often limited by tongue weight limits (how much weight is sitting on the tow hitch, and thus supported by the suspension), which should be 10-15% of the total payload. While it seems like they could just balance the trailer and reduce tongue weight, if it is below 10% the payload becomes extremely dynamically unmanageable. The other limi…

Which is also why to tow really big trailers, you need a gooseneck / fifth wheel hitch.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#559

Post by riscy » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 2:00 AM UTC

chung8123 wrote: post #482

It is extremely misleading to include gas savings as a reduction in purchase price. If anything that should be used as a comparison of overall operating costs and cost more than the purchase price but not as much more as the gas competitor.

Yes, they’re assuming electricity is free.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck Pricing and Specs

#560

Post by chrisco255 » Fri, Dec 01, 2023, 2:00 AM UTC

WheatMillington wrote: post #306

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Everyone I know doing construction/trade work tends to drive much smaller pickups. Smaller than an F150? Maybe it's because I live in the Bay Area where there's more money being thrown around but trucks of that size and larger seem to be common for trade workers.

FWIW here in New Zealand the F150 is gigantic, and very uncommon. Our usual "trucks" (utes) are far smaller - Hilux, Ranger, etc.

FWIW you live on an island with a fraction of the population, and industry of the U.S and a very different geography and urban landscape. Could you haul anything 1000 miles if you even wanted to? Would there be any practical point to point travel where that was necessary without needing to transfer to a boat first? Because in the U.S. there's hundreds, maybe even thousands of trade routes that long.