"Tesla's Cybertruck Tug-of-War Stunt Was Pointless"

[Deckard]

Just as with the Ford stunt of an F-150 pulling a train over a million pounds, this video confirms what I picked up on with the Cybtrtrk pulling the F-150 video played during the reveal, mainly only the rear wheels of the F-150 were spinning forward, hence only RWD. The Cybrtrk being an EV, it will clearly have enough torque to pull excessive weight. The real question should be what max weight can it tow for how long / distance and at what cost to the battery charge.

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[BadgerCooperative]

No, it was not a stunt.

Elon immediately agreed to a re-match request, pull on Ford's terms.

Ford CEOs declined his offer. How much stunt was there? ZERO. Done.

 

[stumby]

I could have done without that tow comparison being featured during the reveal. Felt unprofessional to me. The Cybertruck's stats they flashed on screen spoke for themselves without needing to directly troll a fellow manufacturer... especially since the true fair apples to apples test will be the Cybertruck vs the electric F-150.

 

[BadgerCooperative]

"Built Ford TOUGH", except when it comes to tests of power.

People would ask for it, so he did it.

 

[Cyber_Dav]

A stunt, but that's marketing. It doesn't detract from the vehicle.

 

[Schuyler]

So what? It doesn't matter. Nobody is going to buy or not buy a Cybertruck based on a 10 second video.

 

[BadgerCooperative]

No, here is where MOST of the planet is WAY outside the Musk thinking box; NOBODY has an electric pick up truck, AWD, 690HP.

It's NOT a stunt.

If YOUR company doesn't have a competitive vehicle, to BRING to the table, IS IT A STUNT? Hell no. You're a loser from the get go, period. That's Elon's perspective and THE ultimate truth of it all.

STOP listening to BS 1995-thinking people, it's not where we are today, it is NOT where Tesla is today.

 

[Cyber_Dav]

No, here is where MOST of the planet is WAY outside the Musk thinking box; NOBODY has an electric pick up truck, AWD, 690HP.

Calm down. Tesla doesn't have one either, you know that, right? By the time they do, several other EV trucks will be available, with so far unannounced specs.

It is not a production vehicle, and it was unnecessary. Ergo, we believe it is a publicity stunt. Not meaningful. That's all.

 

[FranzFASTBALL]

There isn't one tug of war truck video that isn't a "stunt." The whole thing is meant to be shown as a test of strength when all it really ever is, is a test of traction. I don't fault Tesla for showing the video as I think it's a metaphor for how they feel the Cybertruck stacks up to the competition, they weren't worried about it being fair just that it actually represented the trucks superiority to the current class sales leader.

If I were Tesla I'd absolutely redo the stunt, since it's more free publicity, "thanks Ford." If Tesla is really ambitious maybe they could try the 2wd version vs a Ford 4x4, but regardless when they do it will keep people talking about the Cybertruck and the end result will be more preorders.

 

[atebit]

I would’ve rather seen them pull a 7.5GVWR dump trailer filled to near rated capacity up a steep winding road for a few miles while watching the remaining mileage in an inset.

 

[ModelAZ]

Just as with the Ford stunt of an F-150 pulling a train over a million pounds, this video confirms what I picked up on with the Cybtrtrk pulling the F-150 video played during the reveal, mainly only the rear wheels of the F-150 were spinning forward, hence only RWD. The Cybrtrk being an EV, it will clearly have enough torque to pull excessive weight. The real question should be what max weight can it tow for how long / distance and at what cost to the battery charge.

Thanks for posting that. Interesting to learn about the physics of towing etc. Engineering Explained always has good content.

 

[chphilo]

People on different forums repost this video. I think he's just wrong. I think he misunderstood kinetic friction with static friction. Kinetic friction (which is proportional to the weight of the vehicle) is not what pulls the vehicle. It's static friction. Static friction is not proportional to the weight of the vehicle (even though the maximum value is). Here, the torque of the vehicle, among other factors, and especially how quickly that torque is applied to the ground will play an important factor. I think people at Ford understand that which led them to back away from the rematch.

I do agree that they should've used 4x4. But then again, 4x4 is not exactly apple to apple with AWD either.

Just as with the Ford stunt of an F-150 pulling a train over a million pounds, this video confirms what I picked up on with the Cybtrtrk pulling the F-150 video played during the reveal, mainly only the rear wheels of the F-150 were spinning forward, hence only RWD. The Cybrtrk being an EV, it will clearly have enough torque to pull excessive weight. The real question should be what max weight can it tow for how long / distance and at what cost to the battery charge.

 

[chphilo]

One more point, I am glad that Tesla did show this video from marketing point of view. Marketing is not exactly fair reporting. I am from the truck world and there is a bias in that world that considers any electric/hybrid vehicles as weak and not up to the task. If anything, this helps to dispel that myth.

 

[Saskateam]

Would Ford do the same thing if the opposite was true? Top Gear would do this test to prove Tesla is weaker.

 

[Jimstan65]

The fact it can drag a 5000 Lb ~Ford 150 sled with it’s wheels spinning up an incline is incredible . I have faith it will pull my 4000 lb boat , even with the boat trailers wheels locked, cuz ya never know . . Good enough for me .

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