Tesla design lead, Pawel Pietryka, who left the company last month has now shown off some prototype design videos of the Cybertruck and Model 3/Y on his website as part of his portfolio. He showed some interesting footage of the Cybertruck and the Model 3/Y UI. We covered the Model 3/Y video in what could be a part of the new FSD visualizations here if you haven't seen it yet.
These videos appear to be recent based on the Model 3 video containing many recent UI changes. There’s a lot we haven’t seen of the Cybertruck so this video is especially interesting since in some areas it gives us a first peek into the Cybertruck UI.
The Tesla Model S and X use similar UI elements as the Model 3 and Y. The design language used is essentially the same and the UI only differs when necessary, based on feature or hardware changes.
However, based on this video it doesn’t look like Tesla has any plans to merge the Cybertruck UI with the rest of the Tesla models. As unique as the Cybertruck is on the outside, it looks like it will be just as unique on the inside.
Tesla Cybertruck UI
You can check out the full video below.
Although the Cybertruck will be similar to the Model 3/Y with its single, center-mounted screen, it seems that it will differ in that it will mostly use a single app on screen at a time.
Whereas the Model 3 will display visualizations on the left side and the music or maps app on the right side, the Cybertruck incorporates the visualizations and the map into a single view. It shows the truck’s visualization inside of the map to let you know where you are on the map, instead of a standard arrow.
In order for the visualizations and surroundings to still be useful, the map has a much more zoomed-in view. It’s an interesting concept that merges the near-by environment renderings that the truck’s cameras are able to determine with the further-away map data like buildings and streets. It is essentially merging real-time environment data with pre-mapped data into a single view. It makes a lot of sense in some ways, but you do lose the big-picture route view that the map usually provides.
When the truck is parked and there’s no need for a map view, then the truck visualization will take up the whole screen, allowing you to open or close the frunk, tailgate or adjust the suspension in this nice full-screen type view.
We also get our first look at the HVAC controls. In this particular instance, since the truck is driving, the HVAC controls fluidly slide in from the left, revealing similar controls to current Tesla models, but with the Cybertruck interior.
The controls look very simplified and only include a power button, temperature control and vent direction control, but on closer inspection it looks like you’ll be able to slide over to reveal another HVAC pane that may include additional controls, like the ability to keep the climate on when exiting the car, turning on/off the AC and the ability to control the air recirculation.
All signs point to the Cybertruck doing extremely well, but one thing for sure is that the Cybertruck will be a very different and interesting vehicle.
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Tesla recently showed off Giga Small Haus, an interesting new display project hosted at Giga Berlin. The small new house is located just outside the main entrance of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, with a Quicksilver Model Y parked inside.
Giga Small Haus is powered only by solar and Powerwall 3 - disconnected from the local grid and from Giga Berlin itself. It serves as a live demonstration of Tesla Solar and Tesla’s Powerwall battery backup.
Giga Small Haus
The centerpiece of the display is a Model Y in Quicksilver - a beautiful pick for a beautifully lit house. However, that’s not the real focus here - it's the Powerwall and Gateway on the wall.
The Powerwall is the focus of Giga Small Haus, and there’s a display with some additional information on the wall. Part of the display also includes a screen that displays the current output of the Powerwall itself versus the consumption of Giga Small Haus, as well as the input from solar.
The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
Not a Tesla App
The text on the exhibit is divided into several sections. Here’s a translated and edited version of what we can see from Tesla’s images. Some additional text is obscured. If someone visits Giga Small Haus, let us know.
Powerwall
Powerwall is a home battery system that stores energy from solar panels, the electrical grid, or during off-peak hours and powers your home during the day or during a power outage.
With Powerwall, you can use self-generated solar energy during the day and night, thus avoiding high electricity costs. You can also store excess energy produced during sunny periods for use during times of low production or power outages.
Key Features
Energy Storage: Powerwall stores excess energy from solar panels or the grid for later use or during power outages.
Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, Powerwall automatically switches to battery power to ensure continuous power supply.
Integration: Powerwall can be seamlessly integrated with existing solar systems and other power sources.
Scalability: Multiple Powerwalls can be installed to meet higher energy storage needs.
Smart Energy Management: Powerwall works with Tesla's software to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.
How Powerwall Works
Storage: During the day, when solar panels produce more energy than needed, the excess is stored in Powerwall.
Usage: At night or during times of low solar production, the stored energy is used to power the home, reducing reliance on the grid.
Backup: During a power outage, Powerwall automatically provides power to critical circuits, ensuring continuous operation of essential appliances.
Benefits
Cost Savings: By storing and using solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills.
Reliability: Provides backup power during outages, ensuring your home remains powered.
Sustainability: Promotes the use of renewable energy by storing excess solar production for later use.
Overall, Giga Small Haus is an interesting real-life demo of what Powerwall and Solar can accomplish. It would be neat if Tesla built more of these displays - perhaps near major Delivery and Service Centers and at Giga Texas, Fremont, Giga Shanghai, and other facilities. Many Tesla owners have yet to learn about and experience some of Tesla’s Energy products.
Tesla has added the Acceleration Boost option to the Tesla store for owners of the 2024 Model 3 Long Range - specifically owners in Australia and China. Acceleration Boost is an upgrade that provides a significant performance boost, drastically narrowing the performance gap between the Long Range and Performance versions of the same model.
This upgrade will likely become available in Europe, Canada, and the United States in the next few days as Tesla updates its shops globally.
Acceleration Boost
This new Acceleration Boost is retailing for $3,000 AUD, or approximately $2,000 USD. That’s the same price for current owners of older Model 3 or Model Y Long Range vehicles, which all have the option to purchase Acceleration Boost through the shop.
The boost provides improved 0-100km/h (0-60mph) performance, bumping the 2024 Model 3 LR from 4.4s to 3.8s. The 2024 Performance version comes in at a blazing fast 2.9 seconds, so while it isn’t equivalent to just buying a performance variant in the first place, it is still a noticeable and significant upgrade.
Performance variants also come with a different front fascia vent for cooling, performance drive units, sport seats, adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels, and Track Mode V3. That’s a significant number of additional features in the $10,000 USD price difference between the Long Range and Performance versions.
Should You Buy It?
If you’ve purchased a Long Range model and are itching to go just that little bit faster at every red light, this is the upgrade for you. It previously came with the cost of slightly reducing vehicle range, but the Tesla store doesn’t make a note of reduced range this time around. The 2023 Model 3 and Model Y Long Range models had an efficiency loss of about 5% due to the additional always-available acceleration and cooling.
You could drive in Chill mode to mostly negate that efficiency loss, but what’s the fun in driving in Chill when you just got Acceleration Boost? Anyhow, the shop listing for the 2024 variant doesn’t include this detail, so it's possible Tesla may have worked some more engineering magic.
Overall, if you’ve got the $3,000 AUD burning a hole in your pocket, some Tesla referral credits sitting around, or just want to go faster, it's definitely an upgrade many users find valuable.
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