Don’t know what happened to my comment in response. I can’t see it in the queue any longer, even though it was held for moderation. (Maybe moderators didn’t like the photos of what running a multiple wheeled truck into the back of a Model S did to it.) Anyway, here’s the justification for the claim regarding the luxury car market. It’s from Capital One and, as I said in my original reply, “What’s in your garage?”
A few cool things I learned about the Cybertruck (CT) today:
1) The glass broke because it had slid down after the door bashing demo. Remember, just before, they demoed those windows by dropping the steel ball from various heights. After each hit, they re-tightened the perimeter clamps holding the glass.
So the glass IS strong, but it needs to be fully supported around its rim to function optimally. (Obviously!)
2) The CT will have stock on-board air compressor, 120v and 240v AC outlets
3) Testers raved about the seat comfort. The front bench is 6 feet wide. A fellow who was 6’4″ tall said he has several inches of headspace in the rear seat, and the back seats have as much legroom as the front seats – truly spacious.
4) The cargo bed has built-in LED lighting. The bed sidewalls each have a built-in full-length slot (standard in aerospace tech) that accept a slew of anchoring point options.
5) The cargo bed floor’s stripes are actually T-track rails that also accept a variety of anchorable devices.
6) The rear-view mirror is actually a LED monitor from the rear cameras = no blind spots. Side mirrors may have to be added unless the rules change to allow camera/monitors.
7) There is method to the madness. Significant overall manufacturing costs savings supposedly achieved by using that high-tech steel as a structural monocoque cage, as it eliminates the need for body on frame or chassis construction that other large trucks use.
Basically, for EVs to become widespread, battery range, charging infrastructure, and initial cost all need a little improvement – hard to argue with that. He mentions at the end that choice in vehicle style is also important – I would add that to the above list.
If you’re someone who thinks everyone will have EVs in 5-10 years, that article might appear negative, but I think it should be taken as a real sign that GM has it firmly in mind that EVs are the future of personal transport.
November 25, 2019 at 11:06 am
@dumboldguy,
Don’t know what happened to my comment in response. I can’t see it in the queue any longer, even though it was held for moderation. (Maybe moderators didn’t like the photos of what running a multiple wheeled truck into the back of a Model S did to it.) Anyway, here’s the justification for the claim regarding the luxury car market. It’s from Capital One and, as I said in my original reply, “What’s in your garage?”
November 25, 2019 at 12:07 pm
A few cool things I learned about the Cybertruck (CT) today:
1) The glass broke because it had slid down after the door bashing demo. Remember, just before, they demoed those windows by dropping the steel ball from various heights. After each hit, they re-tightened the perimeter clamps holding the glass.
So the glass IS strong, but it needs to be fully supported around its rim to function optimally. (Obviously!)
2) The CT will have stock on-board air compressor, 120v and 240v AC outlets
3) Testers raved about the seat comfort. The front bench is 6 feet wide. A fellow who was 6’4″ tall said he has several inches of headspace in the rear seat, and the back seats have as much legroom as the front seats – truly spacious.
4) The cargo bed has built-in LED lighting. The bed sidewalls each have a built-in full-length slot (standard in aerospace tech) that accept a slew of anchoring point options.
5) The cargo bed floor’s stripes are actually T-track rails that also accept a variety of anchorable devices.
6) The rear-view mirror is actually a LED monitor from the rear cameras = no blind spots. Side mirrors may have to be added unless the rules change to allow camera/monitors.
7) There is method to the madness. Significant overall manufacturing costs savings supposedly achieved by using that high-tech steel as a structural monocoque cage, as it eliminates the need for body on frame or chassis construction that other large trucks use.
November 26, 2019 at 10:21 am
Related, commentary from the president of GM about EVs in general:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/25/perspectives/gm-electric-cars/index.html
Basically, for EVs to become widespread, battery range, charging infrastructure, and initial cost all need a little improvement – hard to argue with that. He mentions at the end that choice in vehicle style is also important – I would add that to the above list.
If you’re someone who thinks everyone will have EVs in 5-10 years, that article might appear negative, but I think it should be taken as a real sign that GM has it firmly in mind that EVs are the future of personal transport.
Old article, but it ties in:
https://www.wired.com/story/general-motors-electric-cars-plan-gm/
December 7, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Updated release dates:
https://news.yahoo.com/tesla-changed-release-dates-most-160915179.html
$70K model sometime in 2021, $40K model in late 2022.