? [Update: NOT Production Wiper] New Cybertruck design spied! Shortened front, no door handles, side mirrors, curved windshield glass! [Dec. 10]

[JBee]

However, length notwithstanding, if you look at the taper on the upper part of the roof, there's no way you could slide a fixed tonneau cover in there.

So it's not actually that bad from this angle though, and from my CAD the measurements. The easiest way to fix it is to taper in the top parts of the sides (sail) to match the width of the roof at the apex. You then still have a standard sliding window, but you need to have a telescopic guide for the top of the vault cover.

The other thing I noticed is that the front frunk of the CT is now also round, not just the windscreen:

And there seems to be three different finishes on the stainless steel too across the doors and panels, silver, blue and bronze.

There's also a alien octopus trying to get out of the CT drivers door:

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[bob/lego/gamer]

Honestly the wiper does not bother me.

 

[Throwcomputer]

Lol I was just going through the footage again and thinking the same.
There is a way to still make it work but it's not a simple sliding window then.

What's noticeable in that picture is that the tailgate now has square sides instead of diagonal like on the first version. Also the ramp doesn't look like it will fit in the tailgate anymore.

The loss of the tailgate ramp and any loss of bed length will make me cry a little inside every time I use the bed!

 

[JBee]

The loss of the tailgate ramp and any loss of bed length will make me cry a little inside every time I use the bed!

To be honest I think the ramp is the worst feature on the CT. An accident waiting to happen. It's simply way to steep despite the kneeling suspension. And it's highly likely that if you actually need to ramp to load something, it means it's heavy, and if it's heavy its more likely to kill you or seriously hurt you when it falls on you down the ramp. Give me a slideout draw any day of the week, that then can lower down on an angle and place the load on the ground where it's safe. Would also double as a bed extender for those worried about length.

 

[SparkEE]

Looks like you're using the current silicon monocrystalline efficiencies in your numbers. In one to two years, production tandem perovskite and silicon solar cells will be available at 30% efficiency. You'd likely go from 225W per square meter to close to 350. 50% gain in panel output as long as they can work out durability and degradation issues associated with perovskites.

Not enough to drive on but a huge leap in output if the solar option is a real thing.

 

[Crissa]

There are no perovskite cells in the production pipeline in the next two years.

But cells would still be slowly inching upwards in efficiency.

-Crissa

 

[JBee]

Looks like you're using the current silicon monocrystalline efficiencies in your numbers. In one to two years, production tandem perovskite and silicon solar cells will be available at 30% efficiency. You'd likely go from 225W per square meter to close to 350. 50% gain in panel output as long as they can work out durability and degradation issues associated with perovskites.

Not enough to drive on but a huge leap in output if the solar option is a real thing.

I assume you mean me with your comment. My table was intended to show that a CT is unlikely to produce 2kW of solar power from the available area on the truck. Sunpower is pretty good efficiency and an off the shelf, flexible and reliable product with decades of PV experience. The "reliable" sort of thing you want in a car.

Besides, I doubt EM will authorize use of anything fancy on the Cyberturck as it is an ineffective way to charge to add range. I see the primary reason for solar on the CT as a way to combat parasitic loads and run the A/C while the car is parked in the sun to reduce energy consumption from the batteries. (Even the prius does this with solar) It is also to appease the solar masses that demand some sunlight conversion be included in their post-apocalyptic car.

EM doesn't even use special PV on Starlink or Space X. Just makes the panel a bit bigger to compensate.

 

[Ogre]

We should start a "No rollup Vault Cover!" group?

In addition to clearing up some issues with routing and possible mid gate, you also get all that additional storage area under the bed which would be pretty nice.

I love the vault cover for the convenience and security… but if given the choice between a mid-gate/ pass thru access and the vault, I’d be hard pressed to choose.

 

[JBee]

In addition to clearing up some issues with routing and possible mid gate, you also get all that additional storage area under the bed which would be pretty nice.

I love the vault cover for the convenience and security… but if given the choice between a mid-gate/ pass thru access and the vault, I’d be hard pressed to choose.

Yep exactly. But with a solid sliding vault cover stowed under the rear roof, you'd get both midgate plus hard vault cover plus easy 1kW of solar, and a gear tunnel similar to the Rivian if you wanted too under the bed where the vault cover was rolled up. Win win.

Need to petition this to EM somehow.

 

[flowerlandfilms]

In regards to the tonneau cover being replaced with a sliding window:

It is a little difficult to square the tonneau with Teslas "delete as many parts as possible" mantra, especially when it comes to moving parts, so I can see engineers pressuring towards making it simpler.
However I can also see that with this being Elons pet project we might get a few extravagances ala the Model X (Faberge Egg), for the sake of awesomeness rather than practicality.

I am undecided which will win out, but my preference is for the rolling cover.
There are writing desks from the 1700s with rolling covers which have worked fine without maintenance for centuries, I think the engineers at Tesla can do even better AND give us a passthrough without too many compromises.

That's my hope anyway.

 

[JBee]

In regards to the tonneau cover being replaced with a sliding window:

It is a little difficult to square the tonneau with Teslas "delete as many parts as possible" mantra, especially when it comes to moving parts, so I can see engineers pressuring towards making it simpler.
However I can also see that with this being Elons pet project we might get a few extravagances ala the Model X (Faberge Egg), for the sake of awesomeness rather than practicality.

I am undecided which will win out, but my preference is for the rolling cover.
There are writing desks from the 1700s with rolling covers which have worked fine without maintenance for centuries, I think the engineers at Tesla can do even better AND give us a passthrough without too many compromises.

That's my hope anyway.

What are your expectations regarding how weather and bull dust will go with a segmented roller door vault cover? Mine aren't very high, and I like to keep my gear clean. As you know the stuff gets everywhere, and I'm hoping the bio-defense mode and air filters on this thing can cope.

Corrugated dirt roads should be good though with this thing at least with active suspension, but going to get a good workout on Aussie roads either way. (I've also got a plan for a diesel powered range extender pusher trailer/RV in the works to get over our lack of chargers)

 

[Ogre]

Yep exactly. But with a solid sliding vault cover stowed under the rear roof, you'd get both midgate plus hard vault cover plus easy 1kW of solar, and a gear tunnel similar to the Rivian if you wanted too under the bed where the vault cover was rolled up. Win win.

Need to petition this to EM somehow.

Are you talking about something that goes from outside the vault and slides under the existing roof?

That will introduce whole other sets of problems. It’s a really bad idea to inject anything into the cabin from the vault area or outside. If you open this up on a rainy day, you are very likely to have rain in the cabin.

If you have a solid vault cover, it would likely make most sense for a simple pivot up the way most of these covers work.

 

[JBee]

Are you talking about something that goes from outside the vault and slides under the existing roof?

That will introduce whole other sets of problems. It’s a really bad idea to inject anything into the cabin from the vault area or outside. If you open this up on a rainy day, you are very likely to have rain in the cabin.

If you have a solid vault cover, it would likely make most sense for a simple pivot up the way most of these covers work.

Sorry I thought we were already on the same page.

Yep, or preferably it slides off the vault over the top of the existing rear glass roof, either will work if it is a low enough profile. External slide would be nicer because that would mean we can keep the cabin interior clean and there's no NVHS or dirt issues from gaps to the outside.

Actually if we do it outside that means it doesn't even have to be the same length (or width!) as the bed if we wanted to as it could in a pinch extend further than the apex for loading the vault, or we could have a two piece slide. Basically a very flat glass sliding door on the roof that opens up over the rear glass roof.

 

[Ogre]

Sorry I thought we were already on the same page.

Yep, or preferably it slides off the vault over the top of the existing rear glass roof, either will work if it is a low enough profile. External slide would be nicer because that would mean we can keep the cabin interior clean and there's no NVHS or dirt issues from gaps to the outside.

Actually if we do it outside that means it doesn't even have to be the same length as the bed if we wanted to as it could in a pinch extend further than the apex for loading the vault, or we could have a two piece slide. Basically a very flat glass sliding door on the roof that opens up over the rear glass roof.

I must have skipped a post or two along the way here.

The huge advantage of the sliding vault is it vanishes when you don’t need it. Any kind of slide or pivot cover would have to be removed or stashed if you wanted to leave the bed open while traveling. That’s what would make this such a tough call for me, I would likely use the vault open air style about 30-40% of the time.

One possible compromise would be a folding cover you could remove or panels you could stash in the bed or leave at home easily.

As I said… for me personally this would be a tough call. I’m really hoping Tesla makes the cabin easily convertible into a sleeping area so I can just sleep inside and not deal with a mid-gate.

 

[firsttruck]

In regards to the tonneau cover being replaced with a sliding window:

It is a little difficult to square the tonneau with Teslas "delete as many parts as possible" mantra, especially when it comes to moving parts, so I can see engineers pressuring towards making it simpler.
However I can also see that with this being Elons pet project we might get a few extravagances ala the Model X (Faberge Egg), for the sake of awesomeness rather than practicality.
....

I do not need a Faberge truck. I suspect few of us here need or want a Faberge truck

I am expecting better than Ford Tough.

Want 3mm cold-rolled stainless steel ready for Baja TOUGH and reliable.

....
There are writing desks from the 1700s with rolling covers which have worked fine without maintenance for centuries,

Writing desks are in homes and offices NOT outdoors subject to the weather elements and debris (dust, sand, mud, leaves, nuts/seeds from trees (pieces from broken nuts), tree sap, bird shit, etc), snow, ice, water freezing in slat gaps.

About Sandy Munro's comments about rolling cover in aircraft.
1. They are built to higher quality standard.
2. Most rolling covers I have seen on aircraft were on the bottom side of the ship NOT top side.
3. Aircraft normally avoid trees for other major reasons. Airports, military base aircraft areas, aircraft carriers have no trees, tree branches over aircraft, gaggle of birds sitting on branches or overhead wires with group of birds shitting on vehicle below for days or weeks.
So usually NO multi-layers of bird shit, leaves, tree sap, nuts/seeds from trees (pieces from broken nuts) in the slat gaps.

I have multiple tall storage cabinets I mostly just leave leave open because the rolling cover doors are always jamming when you try to open/close the doors. Some days I wish I could throw the cabinets in the driveway and just run over them with the Cybertruck!

Rolling cover only makes sense if there is NO room for a rigid sliding door.
In general sliding doors are more reliable.
If Tesla design team have figured out a way to get space for rigid sliding cover they should do it instead of rolling cover.

The rolling cover storage space below the vault bed could then be used for more batteries or more cargo storage.

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