The headlight location is dangerous in snow

[mahdir35]

This is a made-up issue and simply reflects that driving in snow and ice requires attention and ongoing driver responsibility for ensuring the vehicle is able to proceed safely. We have ice and snow removers for a reason. Snow obscuring headlights has been an issue since there were cars and trucks. Ever get out and clean your windshield wipers? This is NOT a safety issue. It is a driver competence issue.

Exactly

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[pricedm]

How about the rear lights? My Model 3 for reference. If you’d like, I can also upload a picture of any electric vehicle and any vehicle with LED lights. Head over to the Rivian forms or the 1994-98 Acura Integra forms and see what people have to say about the recessed, snow collector, headlight design

Repeat after me: LED lights are the work of the devil. /s

 

[devdrone6]

We need mini boring company flame throwers. This is the way to keep both snow and snowflakes off our trucks.

 

[mahdir35]

We need mini boring company flame throwers. This is the way to keep both snow and snowflakes off our trucks.

Don’t encourage them, smh

 

[mongo]

Halogens are incandescent bulbs. To glow in the warm color temp range requires a filament at 3000K, headlight color is more in the 5000-6000K range.
LEDs are rated up to maybe 120C / 400K.
So temperature wise, LEDs must run cooler (which is why they have a heat sink)

Power wise, incandescent bulbs produce ~25 lumen/watt. LEDs are ~70.
So for the same light output, LEDs use less power.
And, with being more efficient, less of the power used is turned into heat.

 

[Stuck4ger]

Why are so many people so quick to blame the Cybertruck? I’ll never understand. OP mentioned a safety issue with the headlights, but all I could gather from the post was that they were driving in a snowstorm. Am I missing something here?

I drove for hundreds of miles in heavy snow and never had to stop and clean my headlights. But it was a dry snow. If it’s wet that could be a different story regardless of the vehicle. The only thing that needs addressing here are the owners’ prima donna blame-Tesla-for-everything-bad-attitudes

 

[BannedByTMC]

Some people are unable to understand that two things can be true at the same time:

1. Any vehicle can have snow buildup on the headlights
2. CT makes this worse by having recessed lights and a shelf in front of them that allows a large buildup.

Also the people claiming LED's run hotter than incandescent are insane. Mongo provided the math above.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

The temp of the outer lens is much cooler with LED lights compared to halogen bulbs. Not sure where you're getting this information from, but it's not true

I am referring to total heat output from any source. Not necessarily at the lens, where all headlights are relatively cool, regardless of whether LED or incandescent. My point is that headlights have NEVER melted snow or ice due to their heat output. OP is making an issue where there is none. See my post above with pictures of snow covered headlights.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I'm not sure where the idea that LEDs burn hotter than halogen or incandesant bulbs came from, but the science doesn't support that. For the same amount of light output, LEDs consume far less power than regular bulbs. And most of that power (wattage) for any of these lights is given off as heat. So a light-equivalent LED generates far less heat than other types of lights. Yes, LEDs require a heat sink to keep the temperature of the semiconductor (that's the LED itself) down. But the heat sink is generally not forward facing (or it would obscure the light).

You can experience this for yourself. Try to touch a 100W household incandesant bulb that's been running for a while (well, maybe don't), then try it with an LED bulb with the same light output (typically 1600 lumens, 15 watts or so). You'll see the difference in emitted heat immediately.

This kind of issue is not unique to vehicles. When LED traffic lights first started to appear, the same kind of problem surfaced - the LEDs did not give off enough heat to melt snow that accumulated in the baffled (not sure if that's the correct term, maybe shrouded?) lights. And intersections controlled by LED traffic signals became a problem in heavy snow. Witnessed first-hand. Not sure how they solved it, but they did.

Again, not an issue and factually incorrect. Headlights of any type never heated away snow and ice. Never.

 

[SCTesla]

I am referring to total heat output from any source. Not necessarily at the lens, where all headlights are relatively cool, regardless of whether LED or incandescent. My point is that headlights have NEVER melted snow or ice due to their heat output. OP is making an issue where there is none. See my post above with pictures of snow covered headlights.

You are still wrong. Halogen headlights absolutely melt snow to an extent, it's not instant.

The issue with the CT is that the headlights are recessed and have a shelf, they are more problematic than other vehicles. Rivian has a similar issue. You posting parked vehicles just makes you look crazier than when you said LED lights burn brighter.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

You are still wrong. Halogen headlights absolutely melt snow to an extent, it's not instant.

The issue with the CT is that the headlights are recessed and have a shelf, they are more problematic than other vehicles. Rivian has a similar issue. You posting parked vehicles just makes you look crazier than when you said LED lights burn brighter.

Just be a responsible driver. No headlights melt snow. Many headlights have a bumper in front of them. Many headlights accumulate snow and ice. Like ALL of them. When driving in snow you have to clean them every once in a while. It’s pretty basic. This is simply NOT a thing. Or buy a vehicle that has headlight wipers (yes they exist) or has heated washers like those available on some Porches, BMWs, other EU cars (see BMW’s retractable version below). But until then just be a good driver on those couple days per year that you are ACTUALLY OUT IN DRIVING SNOW WHILE IT IS FALLING. For mostly people that’s either NEVER or only in an emergency. The amount of accumulation is not so much per hour that you can’t get out with an brush and handle it. This whole thing is just silly.

 

[SCTesla]

Just be a responsible driver. No headlights melt snow. Many headlights have a bumper in front of them. Many headlights accumulate snow and ice. Like ALL of them. When driving in snow you have to clean them every once in a while. It’s pretty basic. This is simply NOT a thing. Or buy a vehicle that has headlight wipers (yes they exist) or has heated washers like those available on some Porches, BMWs, other EU cars (see BMW’s retractable version below). But until then just be a good driver on those couple days per year that you are ACTUALLY OUT IN DRIVING SNOW WHILE IT IS FALLING. For mostly people that’s either NEVER or only in an emergency. The amount of accumulation is not so much per hour that you can’t get out with an brush and handle it. This whole thing is just silly.

You are starting off completely incorrect. Many who have the CT have issues with snow that they never had with previous vehicles. It's a poor design, much like Rivian. There are other vehicles as well.

To say no headlights melt snow is, again, comical. Just like your comment that LEDs are hotter than halogen. It's a false statement. People will create solutions for it if the truck is mass produced, but to say it's not an issue is flat wrong. People have an issue with it, so it's an issue for them.

 

[Stuck4ger]

Tesla sucks, “I demand heated headlights for snow”

Tesla sucks, “my range takes a hit when my heated headlights are on!”

 

[PungoteagueDave]

You are starting off completely incorrect. Many who have the CT have issues with snow that they never had with previous vehicles. It's a poor design, much like Rivian. There are other vehicles as well.

To say no headlights melt snow is, again, comical. Just like your comment that LEDs are hotter than halogen. It's a false statement. People will create solutions for it if the truck is mass produced, but to say it's not an issue is flat wrong. People have an issue with it, so it's an issue for them.

Dude, EVERY vehicle made will accumulate snow in/on its headlights if the snow is heavy and wet, or if driving in freezing rain. This is also an issue with airplanes. It is basic and a normal concern when driving in inclement weather.

This is NOT a design issue with the CT. Does this particular feature (hidden headlights under a ledge over a bumper) encourage material accumulation? Of course. You need to wipe it off - problem solved. Same “concern” when driving off road in mud. Be responsible and own your driving safety. You snowflakes are acting like this is an everyday problem. “Dangerous location” titles/headlines are stupid.

IF you are serious about this being an issue FOR YOU, there are self-help choices, including heat tape. Simple, unobtrusive. Or you could clear tape over the gap. Or just be a responsible driver and deploy a glove or brush every 10 or 20 minutes.

It’s your call, but I suggest we stop with the design flaw hysterics. We have cantrails and other issues that are FAR more cataclysmic concerns for a CT owner. Haven’t you heard that these things can spontaneously combust? Why would ANYONE expose their family to a CT in the first place, much less try to drive one in a snowstorm? Haven't you heard that a CT’s range is only a few miles in cold weather anyway?

 

[BannedByTMC]

Tesla sucks, “my range takes a hit when my heated headlights are on!”

Said no one...

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