AWD VS BEAST

[Tecyber1]

Beast acceleration is hilarious. Literally. You're gonna get more noise from the third motor inside the cabin. Some people like it, some don't. Handling/comfort is slightly better in the AWD - especially with core wheels. After over a month with the Beast I was borrowing I ended up getting the AWD, no regrets.

I'm big on comfort but I cannot for the life of me stand the look of the core wheels. They look so lame on the CT design to my eyes.

The AT's have always been shockingly comfortable, that's always been super impressive to me.

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[Pops]

I recommend the beast, but don't get it if you use those insurance drive tracking apps!

 

[spacebar75]

I like to put cybertruck skeptics in my cyberbeast- put the vehicle in beast mode. Ask my passengers not to make funny noises when I step on the accelerator. They always say / “I’m not making silly noises- I have been in lots of fast cars”—- step on the accelerator and listen to their funny noises they make. These are usually friends from my local Porsche and Corvette clubs. They are skeptics when I suggest that this silly looking truck is faster than any car in their car club- they of course, are skeptical of that claim. After the launch control blast they understand. Then the truck drives itself to lunch while listening to the best stereo I have had in any car. At the restaurant this huge truck parks itself- backing into a parking space - using rear wheel steering and finally lowers itself down. While driving I ask Grok to explain Einstein’s theory of relativity. End result- my friends understand why Musk is the richest man in the world and likely the first trillionaire.

Exactly this !

 

[b2ezu01]

Looking to buy a used Cybertruck.
Is the beast worth it?
2024 VS 2025?
Best place to find listings?

I would sell you my FS Beast light bar installed 6358 total miles garaged no wrap no damage 7G2CEHEE9RA011914 Delivered 5/31/2024 Naperville Illinois. Offer? You know what I paid.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

Beast acceleration is hilarious. Literally. You're gonna get more noise from the third motor inside the cabin. Some people like it, some don't. Handling/comfort is slightly better in the AWD - especially with core wheels. After over a month with the Beast I was borrowing I ended up getting the AWD, no regrets.

Good call on the sound. The Beast is the loudest EV I have ever been in, and I don't think anything else is even close to it. Some people miss the vroom vroom noises, the Beast helps to bring back the audio aspect of driving. Other people hate the noise and don't want to go back.

Is the noise and the jarring thumps hitting a bump under acceleration an issue? If not, Beast is the way. But this is obviously a personal decision.

 

[mongo]

Locker performance/placement of permanent magnet motor: It is honestly rare that they should ever be used, but the AWD having a locking rear vs the two motors in the rear is much preferable when you need to use the lockers. This is mostly a stall torque situation of going from zero RPM to actually rotating. This is a weakness for induction motors, and the smaller they are, the more it tends to be an issue. The rear of the Beast has two smaller induction motors. Which gives it a stall torque disadvantage, and the fact they are not mechanically linked means you're resorting on software to keep them at the same RPM, which never is exact. Additionally the times you need a locker are typically very slick surfaces or big inclines (or both). On the inclines, the weight is on the rear allowing the permanent magnet motor with the better stall torque and actual mechanical locker to perform better.

Are you comparing the torque output of the AWD rear drive unit (RDU) to the torque of only one half of the Beast RDU? i.e. the situation where one tire has no grip?
The Beast has higher torque output (all motors) than the AWD.

Speed control is only needed in a total loss of traction situation. When delivering power to the surface, an inductive motors torque vs speed curve governs power output at whatever speed the wheel are turning vs the voltage frequency input of the inverter.
The permanent magnet drive unit is the one that has direct speed feedback (phasing) at the motor, though all have it less directly from the wheel speed sensors.

 

[SCTesla]

Beast acceleration is hilarious. Literally. You're gonna get more noise from the third motor inside the cabin. Some people like it, some don't. Handling/comfort is slightly better in the AWD - especially with core wheels. After over a month with the Beast I was borrowing I ended up getting the AWD, no regrets.

2 people have said "comfort". What are you referring to?

Handling at high speeds is better, but comfort? I see no difference there.

 

[cyberjeff25]

Also the beast can tow more weight than the AWD - if you have a heavy trailer or boat this could matter.

 

[henchman24]

Are you comparing the torque output of the AWD rear drive unit (RDU) to the torque of only one half of the Beast RDU? i.e. the situation where one tire has no grip?
The Beast has higher torque output (all motors) than the AWD.

Speed control is only needed in a total loss of traction situation. When delivering power to the surface, an inductive motors torque vs speed curve governs power output at whatever speed the wheel are turning vs the voltage frequency input of the inverter.
The permanent magnet drive unit is the one that has direct speed feedback (phasing) at the motor, though all have it less directly from the wheel speed sensors.

I'm talking locked rotor and stall torque. Locked rotor is the from the very beginning to getting to 1 RPM. Stall torque is where the load torque is greater than the motor torque and it is trying to catch up (very low RPM with very high load). In other words...the output from 0-1rpm, and when you get moving it takes a few hundred rpm for an inductive motor to get producing. As you reduce the current and/or size/power of induction motors, you extend that issue. If you run more current through one motor, you'll get more stall and low end torque output. Current has a major impact on the induction motor stall torque.

So same motors (and Beast is two less powerful motors), two induction motors with less current and one induction motor with more current... the higher current motor will produce a lot more power 0-1rpm and extend that for a few hundred RPM. Once in movement though, the dual motors will obviously ramp a lot faster. We're talking like 0-5mph here. Climbing over obstacles at slow speeds. Stair steps. Starting off on a steep incline. That sort of stuff where this impact is felt.

When you add in the mechanical lockers, you allow 100% power that a motor can provide to go to any tire with traction. The rear on the Beast tries to do this with 2 separate 235hp motors (IIRC Tesla has not disclosed motor torque just wheel) vs one 300hp rear. If a rear wheel is lifted and the locker is active it can transfer all the power that that wheel. Where the Beast can only put down 235hp. This is additional to the stall/locked rotor torque issue with less current (and less power overall).

On top of that, having a permanent magnet motor in the rear (like the AWD has) when these stresses happen the weight tends to be on the rear... there you have a motor design that has very high stall and locked rotor torque and a practically flat torque curve from 0-thousands.

This really only applies in low speed off-roading or towing heavy loads up a steep incline. Very niche applications where you need near full power from 0-3 or 4 mph and there is significant resistance.

 

[henchman24]

2 people have said "comfort". What are you referring to?

Handling at high speeds is better, but comfort? I see no difference there.

The Beast is heavier and has more weight on the rear suspension specifically. It causes some slight differences. Noise can be a comfort thing too where the Beast is noticeably louder.

Also the beast can tow more weight than the AWD - if you have a heavy trailer or boat this could matter.

They are rated for the same and AWD has higher payload (due to not carrying the extra weight).

 

[mongo]

Also the beast can tow more weight than the AWD - if you have a heavy trailer or boat this could matter.

Both have the same towing rating, but AWD has higher available payload and rear axle capacity.

 

[mongo]

I'm talking locked rotor and stall torque. Locked rotor is the from the very beginning to getting to 1 RPM. Stall torque is where the load torque is greater than the motor torque and it is trying to catch up (very low RPM with very high load). In other words...the output from 0-1rpm, and when you get moving it takes a few hundred rpm for an inductive motor to get producing. As you reduce the current and/or size/power of induction motors, you extend that issue. If you run more current through one motor, you'll get more stall and low end torque output. Current has a major impact on the induction motor stall torque.

So same motors (and Beast is two less powerful motors), two induction motors with less current and one induction motor with more current... the higher current motor will produce a lot more power 0-1rpm and extend that for a few hundred RPM. Once in movement though, the dual motors will obviously ramp a lot faster. We're talking like 0-5mph here. Climbing over obstacles at slow speeds. Stair steps. Starting off on a steep incline. That sort of stuff where this impact is felt.

When you add in the mechanical lockers, you allow 100% power that a motor can provide to go to any tire with traction. The rear on the Beast tries to do this with 2 separate 235hp motors (IIRC Tesla has not disclosed motor torque just wheel) vs one 300hp rear. If a rear wheel is lifted and the locker is active it can transfer all the power that that wheel. Where the Beast can only put down 235hp. This is additional to the stall/locked rotor torque issue with less current (and less power overall).

On top of that, having a permanent magnet motor in the rear (like the AWD has) when these stresses happen the weight tends to be on the rear... there you have a motor design that has very high stall and locked rotor torque and a practically flat torque curve from 0-thousands.

This really only applies in low speed off-roading or towing heavy loads up a steep incline. Very niche applications where you need near full power from 0-3 or 4 mph and there is significant resistance.

Are you referring to inductive motors in fixed frequency (grid) applications versus inverter driven? The inverter can vary the voltage and frequency to achieve arbitrary torque at zero speed. Given the rotor only sees magnetic slip, not rotational velocity, the output RPM should be a non-factor.

Speaking of the inverter, Beast uses two of the same inverter on the drive unit that AWD does, so are you saying the dual motor RDU stator or rotor have a lower current limit?

HP is out of play at low speeds since it is speed dependent, and the rock crawling vehicle with fixed gearbox deals in torque.

 

[Killlbox]

Good call on the sound. The Beast is the loudest EV I have ever been in, and I don't think anything else is even close to it. Some people miss the vroom vroom noises, the Beast helps to bring back the audio aspect of driving. Other people hate the noise and don't want to go back.

Is the noise and the jarring thumps hitting a bump under acceleration an issue? If not, Beast is the way. But this is obviously a personal decision.

I don’t get the noise thing. Our Beast is just as quiet as our AWD 2024 MY. I’ve heard people complain about it, the issue definitely isn’t with every Beast.

 

[henchman24]

Are you referring to inductive motors in fixed frequency (grid) applications versus inverter driven? The inverter can vary the voltage and frequency to achieve arbitrary torque at zero speed. Given the rotor only sees magnetic slip, not rotational velocity, the output RPM should be a non-factor.

Speaking of the inverter, Beast uses two of the same inverter on the drive unit that AWD does, so are you saying the dual motor RDU stator or rotor have a lower current limit?

HP is out of play at low speeds since it is speed dependent, and the rock crawling vehicle with fixed gearbox deals in torque.

Talking inverter driven, and this is in practice (in the situations this pops up) and dyno proven on electric vehicles. Induction motors have a small delay in production of torque (along with a little inefficiency) where permanent magnet have the immediate production with a slight efficiency uptick (though have to always run).

There is lower current sent to each rear motor compared to one rear motor. A single rear motor of the Beast produces less power than the AWD rear motor.

Yeah... using HP there as it is simply a function of torque and rpm, and Tesla doesn't provide the actual torque or the motor. Two less powerful motors are used instead of one more powerful motor.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I don’t get the noise thing. Our Beast is just as quiet as our AWD 2024 MY. I’ve heard people complain about it, the issue definitely isn’t with every Beast.

My VIN is 9XXX, so I am a pretty early Beast. Maybe they've gotten more quiet, I have only been in my Beast. It is significantly louder than any other EV I have ever been inside. So maybe that answers the 2024 vs 2025 question from the OP.

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