Report: Tesla Orders Equipment to Produce Cybertruck’s Drive Unit

[Jhodgesatmb]

When I image-search Google for "tesla drive unit" I find pics like this:

The term "drive unit" obviously does not include the tires lol, but is much more than a motor, and may power two wheels.

Right!

Sometimes I wonder at whether people who jump in with predictions have watched any of the drive unit tesrdowns that have been done. If we are to believe Munro and Associates (I do), the drive unit includes the motor, motor controller, and transmission to the axle.

Tesla has never used in-hub motors and I am unsure what the limitations of in-hub motors are but I would not expect Tesla to deviate from their current approach.

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[Cyberman]

According to a report from the German publication Teslamag, Tesla has started ordering machines to produce drive units for the Cybertruck from German manufacturers. Of note, these
Report: Tesla Orders Equipment to Produce Cybertruck’s Drive Unit

manufacturers also supply equipment for Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai. According to industry sources that provided the information, the machines are being built and are scheduled to produce the first parts at Giga Texas in July 2023. If running at full capacity, these new machines can reportedly deliver around 750,000 drive units per year.

Source: German publication Teslamag via Driveteslacanada.

Translated version of article (using Google language):

https://teslamag-de.translate.goog/...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

According to a report from the German publication Teslamag, Tesla has started ordering machines to produce drive units for the Cybertruck from German manufacturers. Of note, these manufacturers also supply equipment for Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai. According to industry sources that provided the information, the machines are being built and are scheduled to produce the first parts at Giga Texas in July 2023. If running at full capacity, these new machines can reportedly deliver around 750,000 drive units per year.

Source: German publication Teslamag via Driveteslacanada.

Translated version of article (using Google language):

https://teslamag-de.translate.goog/...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Report: Tesla Orders Equipment to Produce Cybertruck’s Drive Unit
Any word as to whether the equipment has followed that order?

 

[RavenX447]

And we thought our speculation would be alleviated with the trickle release of new information !

New information ? We haven’t even got any old information,
we have No idea of what variants will be available
We have No idea of pricing
We have No idea of delivery dates
Everything we have is pretty much rumours and speculation
Until Tesla pulls it’s head out of its A@@ and gives us some official information
We have nothing

 

[slomobile]

This is an early Model S drivetrain unit https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tesla-Model-S-Drivetrain-Unit.jpg

Later models acquired structural ribs and other features, but the dual cylinder layout reveals a clear forward looking design intent. The inverter does not need to be cylindrical. It would have been easier if it were not. The inverter was built into the envelope of a motor so that future models could bolt a second motor into that position. Models like S Plaid and Cybertruck.

Or maybe we should look to Semi for a rough blueprint with one motor fore, the other aft of the axle. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/tesla2-610x319.jpg

2 gear trains per drive unit together in the center of the vehicle allows for long axle shafts, thus minimum CV angle.

Inside the unit, sharing of common shafts, common bearing supports, reduced number of bearings.
Potentially reduce bearing speed by putting fast gears on slow shafts rather than fixed shafts. Electronic clutch could allow one motor in the unit to remain stationary under low load saving joules. There could even be a serial/parallel motor arrangement where at low speeds each wheel on the drive unit gets it own motor. At higher speed, the axles can be joined, one motor providing base speed while the second motor adds or subtracts velocity. Some blending of 2 input motor speeds and directions on a common output. Something like this

The drive unit requires an inverter. Wouldn't that be 2 inverters? Not necessarily. https://www.academia.edu/13978688/F...h_count_two_motor_constant_power_applications
Rather than 2 Model 3 inverters on the side of each stator housing and 3 oil pumps. A common inverter would add heat and bulk in the middle where the gearbox is, potentially all serviced by the same pump, filter, and heat exchanger. Leaving the stator housing more symmetrical for more even heating/expansion.

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