The Cybertruck has bi-directional charging, letting you power your home
Not a Tesla App
Elon Musk stood in the back of a Cybertruck with the words behind him: more utility than a truck. Faster than a sports car. Tesla's CEO then backed up that statement for the next 20 minutes with real-world examples.
The presentation showed a Cybertruck out pull an F350 and other competitors. A video demonstrated the Cybertruck beating a Porsche 911 on the quarter mile - the Cybertruck was also hauling a Porsche 911. Of course, the bullet tests video was on screen, with a slow-motion shot of a bullet bouncing off the stainless steel.
The delivery event mostly exceeded expectations, as the stainless steel beast is now on the road. Let's dive a little deeper into some of the unprecedented functionality and cutting-edge technology Cybertruck offers.
Biggest Breakthroughs: Steer-By-Wire System
One of the most talked-about features is the Cybertruck's steer-by-wire system. This advanced technology eliminates the need for a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels, offering precision control and a new level of driving experience.
Its implementation is a game-changer, providing drivers with enhanced maneuverability and a turning radius that rivals most sedans. Elon Musk compared it to a jet fighter, stating if you steer the yoke just a little in a parking lot, the vehicle can turn a lot, but if you steer the yoke on the highway, it will adapt to the speed and maneuver the truck accordingly.
Bi-Directional Charging
We hoped this one was coming. One of the Cybertruck's most innovative features is bi-directional charging. This capability allows the Cybertruck to charge its own batteries and power external devices and even other electric vehicles. Whether it's powering tools at a construction site or providing emergency power during a grid outage, the Cybertruck doubles as a mobile power station.
Cybertruck Battery
Tesla has put its largest-ever battery into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck isn't a light vehicle, coming in at 6,603 lbs for the AWD version and 6,843 lbs (3,103 kg) for Cyberbeast, so the fact that it includes Tesla's largest battery isn't surprising.
The AWD and Cyberbeast versions of the Cybertruck both contain a new 123kWh battery. This battery uses 4680 cells and is the equivalent of more than 9 Powerwalls. If you're planning to use the Cybertruck for backup power for your home, there's a lot to like here.
Powered Frunk
The Cybertruck will be the first Tesla to include a powered frunk. It seems that you'll not only be able to open the frunk, but also close it from within the vehicle or through the Tesla app. The spacious trunk also doubles as a bench seat for two for tailgating, sporting events or camping.
Bed Lining
To go along with the power station Cybertruck's super-tough composite bed doesn't require a liner, setting a new standard in durability. This feature is designed to handle all sorts of cargo without worrying about scratches or dents, reflecting Tesla's commitment to both utility and longevity.
Theater on Wheels
The Cybertruck has a massive 18.5
Tesla
The Cybertruck is designed to offer an unparalleled in-vehicle entertainment experience. Its recording studio sound dynamics featuring 15 speakers, including two dedicated subwoofers and distributed amplifiers, transforms into a mobile theater, delivering an immersive audio experience.
At the heart of the Cybertruck's interior are the massive 18.5" touchscreen in the front and the 9.4" touchscreen in the back, both boasting an all-new user interface. These screens are more than just displays; they're control centers that put a wide range of functions at the fingertips of both the driver and passengers.
In line with Tesla's focus on safety and health, the Cybertruck comes equipped with a built-in hospital-grade HEPA filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode, providing protection against 99.97% of airborne particles. This feature, known as the Bioweapon Defense Mode, ensures that the cabin air is clean and safe, regardless of external conditions.
Adventure-Ready
With a range of up to 340 miles on a single charge and the capability to recover up to 136 miles with just 15 minutes of supercharging, the Cybertruck is ready for any adventure. The electronically adaptive air suspension further enhances its off-road capabilities, offering up to 17" of clearance.
Price and Specs Overview
The Cybertruck is offered in three trim levels: the Tri-Motor "Cyberbeast" at $99,990, the Dual-Motor All-Wheel-Drive at $79,990, and the Rear-Wheel-Drive at $60,990. Each model promises a blend of power, efficiency, and range that sets a new benchmark in the electric truck segment.
Tesla has previously stated that it will produce 200,000 Cybertrucks a year. With well over a million reservations, many people could wait a long time to get this vehicle. With that in mind, Tesla offers $1,000 off any other model when customers buy a Cybertruck but take delivery of a different Tesla before December 31.
Video Review
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
Back in 2023, Tesla put together a rather unique Supercharger site idea - one with a CyberCanopy. This canopy is intended to provide solar power for Supercharging, helping to reduce the impact on the local grid while also providing a futuristic and Cybertruck-themed location that would set it apart.
Unfortunately, the plans never moved beyond the filing stage. Instead, Tesla opened a standard-looking Supercharger at the same Canton, Massachusetts location. However, the site is still well-situated just off the highway and benefits from natural tree cover in the parking area.
However, Tesla is at it again with a concept for another CyberCanopy with RGB lighting. Thanks to MarkoRP for spotting this. No April Fool’s this time.
We want to build a few Superchargers cool enough to be worthy of the trip itself. - Max de Zegher
CyberCanopy 2
This second Supercharger with CyberCanopy is set for Roswell, New Mexico, at the Whataburger in town. Featuring just eight stalls, this will be one of Tesla’s smaller Supercharger sites, but for what it lacks in size, it makes up for it in uniqueness. The charging stalls are covered from the rain by a futuristic, Cybertruck-themed canopy, which will have solar panels installed on the top of it.
According to the plans, the CyberCanopy boasts 20.88kW of solar panels on its roof, providing shelter from the elements while also providing some power back to the grid.
RGB Lighting
At nighttime, the Supercharger will make a big statement. Tesla intends to light the long edges of the canopy, which will not only look amazing, but it’ll actually make finding the Supercharger easier in a large parking lot.
The lighting coming off the edge of the canopy reminds us a lot of the lightbar on the Cybertruck and now the new Model Y. It’s definitely the direction Tesla is moving for all their models, so expect all future models to have it, including the new Roadster and the next-gen model.
Tesla’s Max de Zegher also took to X after the plans for the new Supercharger were found and shared the image above. He stated that Tesla wants to build a few cool Superchargers that will be worth stopping at, even if they’re out of the way a little bit. So it seems like this isn’t just a concept, but an idea that Tesla wants to expand to several areas around the country or world.
We want to build a few Superchargers cool enough to be worthy of the trip itself. Wish we could have kept it under wraps for longer, but submittal was needed for Planning Approval. We can't hide anything from @MarcoRPi1! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/X2WaKDd408
This particular site doesn't have a Megapack or other form of energy storage, unlike the upcoming Harris Ranch Supercharger site in California. That means that Tesla won’t be storing the solar energy gained from this site, but instead will be either offsetting the immediate grid impact or serving energy back to the grid when the site isn’t actively charging.
Tesla will likely be incorporating V4 Superchargers, including both V4 posts and the new, more powerful V4 Cabinets, as the permit states that Tesla will be redesigning the site internally before beginning construction. For Cybertruck owners, 500kW charging may be around the corner.
We’re hoping Tesla continues to deploy these kinds of Supercharger sites around the world - they make a stylistic statement about Tesla’s futurism, like the Shell gas station that was upcycled into a Supercharger site earlier this year in Spain.
They also make a big impact for ownership because it is a far more comfortable charging experience when you stop at a site that’s shaded from the elements - and one that’s better for the environment with offset emissions.
It was a rainy April 1st when a news-searching author went on a delve into the depths of April Fools to find fact from falsehood. And while we found a lot of fantastic jokes, we also found some good ideas.
So, with a shoutout to MarcoRP on X, whose April Fool’s Joke gave us a good run for our money for a couple of minutes, we thought to ourselves - what would a Cybercab Charging Station / Cleaning Hub really look like?
Cybercab Wireless Charging Sites
Now, before continuing, we’d like to point out that the image up top is a joke from Marco - it isn’t an accurate or real site map submission from Tesla. However, it gave us the impetus to think critically about what is required for a Robotaxi fleet, based primarily on the Cybercab, to be able to service a city.
Requirements
Tesla will likely need to charge a small fleet of Cybercabs at a single time and in a single place. That means that the site needs to be large enough to cover a major metro area while also still being compact enough to not cost too much money to build out.
In addition, we need to factor in charge times. The Cybercab is likely to launch with a battery around 50 kWh, which will result in a range of approximately 300 miles. With that much range, the average Cybercab may not need to charge more than once or at all during daytime shifts, so instead, most of the vehicles will charge overnight.
MarcoRP
Math and Charge Times
The overnight charging means that most of these vehicles could be charged slowly. When we did some back-of-the-napkin math last year, we determined that Tesla’s wireless charger will likely peak around 17 kW (for comparison, Tesla’s Wall Connector at 32 amps charges at about 7 kW). If we scale Tesla’s wireless charger down slightly to 10 kW, accounting for some energy loss and the potential size of the site, that means a Cybercab will be able to charge in about 5 hours.
Tesla’s upcoming V4 Supercharger unit can currently handle 1.5MW per cabinet, but this slower-speed charging is A/C, not DC, which means there is a step-down loss of about 3-5%. Let’s make that a comfortable 10% for any other overages, but we can estimate around 1.35MW of power. That 1.3MW will easily handle charging up to 100 Cybercabs at once - all wirelessly, using Tesla’s unique beam-forming and beam-steering technology to keep efficiency high at every single stall.
Within about 5 hours, a whole fleet of 100 Cybercabs could be charged overnight when electricity rates are cheaper and still be out in time for the morning commute.
While this is all just hypothetical, it really does make sense that Tesla will be establishing these sites that won’t require much space or a ton of energy.
Tesla recently curtained off a large section of the parking garage at Giga Texas, as well as some of their chargers on the eastern end of the facility, leading us to believe they may just be testing this at scale internally.
There’s a lot to look forward to with Tesla’s V4 Supercharger deployment coming this year and with Robotaxi launching in just a couple of months.
