Cybertruck BIW body-in-white frames with front/rear castings 🤩 [7/11/23]

[SSonnentag]

If third party insurers quote a high price, check out Tesla Insurance, that's exactly why they decided to go into the insurance business, to keep legacy insurers honest.

I've looked at Tesla insurance and was quoted 150% of my current Progressive policy rate. Needless to say, I wasn't favorably impressed.

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[PilotPete]

The only problem with Tesla insurance is they are big brother and watch the car and driver constantly. If you drive at night, they can raise your rate. Pass a car too quickly, but safely, they can still raise your rate. With Tesla insurance you’re not driving your car as its owner, you’re essentially driving theirs as an employee.

One of the few times I can say ”it’s better in California”. State law prohibits big brother. Insurance companies like Progressive that give you the OBD plug to watch you drive and then give you a rate based on how you drive all say “Not available in CA” because it’s not allowed.

 

[AlDente]

Why not the exoskeleton?

It's the skeleton part of the exoskeleton ...

 

[Stargazer]

I don’t see the exoskeleton design. The BIW appears to be very traditional.

I don't think the Cybertruck was ever an exoskeleton design. Elon just used that term because of the stainless steel skin.

 

[Kremmen]

Looks are though they are saving cost by making the side frames out of stamped steel. No wonder the first frame spy shots showed the frame painted white. Looks like they're making great progress.

That was the case from the beginning. Look at the website side view; the stampings were there.

 

[Gojuryu]

Will y'all stop it with the "exoskeleton" references?!? They're meaningless!!! Every car without a cross braced roll cage can be called "exoskeleton". Anything that Tesla produces can be argued to fit the loose definition of exoskeleton. There is no legal definition of the term in relation to automobiles that can be referenced to declare that a unibody, or stamped metal and castings covered with non-structural metal, or even body on frame construction is inconsistent with Elon's comment. So long as it doesn't have bones on the inside covered with tendons, ligaments, muscle and skin, exoskeleton fits. ?

So glad you said it instead of me

 

[Gojuryu]

GFTX

Thanks for the image clean-up. I can now see that there is a pass through behind the rear seat available. Can't wait for Monroe or someone else crazy enough to do a tear-down so we can find out what it will take to remove that wall when we install an aluminum bed-cap.

 

[suade007]

Will y'all stop it with the "exoskeleton" references?!? They're meaningless!!! Every car without a cross braced roll cage can be called "exoskeleton". Anything that Tesla produces can be argued to fit the loose definition of exoskeleton. There is no legal definition of the term in relation to automobiles that can be referenced to declare that a unibody, or stamped metal and castings covered with non-structural metal, or even body on frame construction is inconsistent with Elon's comment. So long as it doesn't have bones on the inside covered with tendons, ligaments, muscle and skin, exoskeleton fits. ?

 

[rudedawg78]

Great point, Lance.

Dang it, Tesla. With so many people in this thread that are "experts" on what an Exoskeleton is, you better update the Cybertruck homepage.

Obviously, Tesla doesn't know what they are talking about... /s

Cybertruck | Tesla

 

[Crissa]

as I understand it is a quasi-exoskeleton. They will have lots of Structural input from the exoskeleton, but also the support from the single piece rear and forward castings like normal cars would have will offer a large part of the structural integrity as well. Cory steuben discussed this in detail with Farzad. He said it was not an exoskeleton, but...

...What would be an exoskeleton, then? How would the motors and wheels connect to the body?

I don't think the Cybertruck was ever an exoskeleton design. Elon just used that term because of the stainless steel skin.

And what would be different in an exoskeleton design? How would the doors fit and the motors mount?

Not to put you guys on the spot here, but Cory's description is nonsensical. Yes, the underneath is like the Model Y and it's more traditional, but... how would it be different for an exoskeleton?

-Crissa

 

[Crissa]

Back to the original post:
Does this photo negate the idea of Tesla using the "unboxed process" in manufacturing the Cybertruck?

Is it possible that the front and rear could be mostly assembled before joining them together as shown in the photo?

Certainly, the doors are subassemblies that could be added last, and the battery pack plus seats would be separate, but what else?

Couldn't the motor(s) and suspension be added to the gigacastings before they are joined?

Likewise, could the instrument panel be joined to the front before further assembly?

What about the bed and tonneau cover?

Basically, I'm wondering how much of the "unboxed process" concept from the "next gen vehicle" could be adapted to make manufacturing the Cybertruck faster and less costly.

This is a good question, and really, at this point... we can't know. The fact it's so bare might be part of the unboxing!

It will probably put the seats on the floor pan, but the back seats are mounted on the bulkhead, so...

?‍

I really can't wait to see what they're doing. Certainly it skips are the assemble, paint, disassemble, paint, reassemble steps.

-Crissa

 

[Crissa]

One of the few times I can say ”it’s better in California”. State law prohibits big brother. Insurance companies like Progressive that give you the OBD plug to watch you drive and then give you a rate based on how you drive all say “Not available in CA” because it’s not allowed.

You can do the obd plug, but the rate has to be set after you hand it back in.. The rate cannot change on the fly and the data they use must be limited (they can't use where you drive, for instance) and cannot be a live feed.

I am okay with some of the path sniffing or checking collision warnings or whatever... but I am not okay with neighborhood or time of day based penalties, because people commuting to work usually can't alter their habits to avoid those situations.

-Crissa

 

[Throwcomputer]

Modern vehicles are totaled if they roll-over or are impacted at typical crash speeds of 30 mph and above. Cybertruck will survive fender-benders in a similar manner to any other vehicle because the rails on the front and rear castings are designed to be replaceable.

What really pushes up insurance rates are injuries and the rate of accidents. Because the Cyberturck will be more maneuverable and much harder to roll than a typical truck, and have far more effective accident-avoidance technologies, the accident rate will be much lower. And the superior strength and lack of roll-overs will greatly reduce injuries and deaths which is what can push insurance claims up to the policy limits. The cost of the vehicle is peanuts compared to that.

It looks to me that the cost to insure the Cybertruck will be less, not more. Keeping people safe and out of hospitals is priceless when it comes to insurance rates. Look at those castings forming the bed wings. Once they are wrapped in 3mm thick, cold-rolled stainless steel, they will act like a roll-cage in severe accidents where the truck does actually get flipped on it's roof. How many legacy trucks have roll-cages integrated into the cab to protect the human lives? If third party insurers quote a high price, check out Tesla Insurance, that's exactly why they decided to go into the insurance business, to keep legacy insurers honest.

Safer for the occupants. Probably less safe for the occupants of the other vehicles in a crash with another vehicle. The increased injuries/severity of inuries to external individuals probably cancels out any cost savings from less injuries of the occupants of the CT itself.

 

[Crissa]

Safer for the occupants. Probably less safe for the occupants of the other vehicles in a crash with another vehicle. The increased injuries/severity of inuries to external individuals probably cancels out any cost savings from less injuries of the occupants of the CT itself.

How is crashing less often because the vehicle remains in control more, less safe for people outside the vehicle?

-Crissa

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