Would you have Purchased the CT if, "it looked more like a normal truck?"

[CyberGus]

I have wanted a Delorean since the early 80's (before BTF). Such a unique looking car.

I took mine to Delivery Day.

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[EricGregori]

I agree, but this was a mistake made by the whole automotive industry, not just Tesla. All the best-selling EVs are a lot smaller than a full-sized truck: the Model Y and Model 3 of course, but also the Toyota bZ, Ford Mach-e, Chevy Equinox, Hyundai Ioniq5, etc. So the manufacturers probably should have started with smaller and less expensive "EV Mavericks" or "EV Tacomas". But they all went for full-sized, high-priced "EV F-150s" instead.

The industry has figured this out, and the smaller EV trucks are finally coming. Slate, Telo, Ford, and Kia are all working on small EV pickups. Could see some initial deliveries by the end of the year.

The forthcoming Scout Terra EV pickup will be 229.2 inches long. This is full-sized, actually longer than a Cybertruck (223.74 inches) and close to an F-150 Lightning (231.7 inches).

The smallest EV pickup on the US market right now is the Rivian R1T at 217.1 inches. It isn't priced like a small truck though (starts at $79,990).

Got it. I thought the Scout was closer in size to a 2000 Ford Ranger or a 90's Isuzu Pickup.

 

[YDR37]

I would think plastic body panels on a truck would be a negative compared to stainless steel.

It is. But the low cost of injection-molded plastic vs. expensive, difficult-to-shape stainless steel has to be considered as well. Low cost is a positive.

It's kind of funny that the only two vehicles on the market that come unpainted are the Cybertruck and the Slate.

 

[EricGregori]

It is. But the low cost of injection-molded plastic vs. expensive, difficult-to-shape stainless steel has to be considered as well. Low cost is a positive.

It's kind of funny that the only two vehicles on the market that come unpainted are the Cybertruck and the Slate.

If my dreams come true (at 56 I have completed my bucket list), Tesla would release a model 2 (Cybercab with controls). A 2 seater with plastic panels would be a perfect around town EV.

 

[JerseyMike]

The subscription model is the only way a lot of people can afford it. Not everyone can drop $8K, $12K, or $15K.

Agree 100%, the 8k or whatever for FSD upfront is just not feasible or logical for most (most just keep a car 2-3 years I think)....heck, you could put that money (not to mention the interest if financing) in the market and likely pay for a good amount of the subscription with the interest earned

 

[eswimm]

Didn't need a truck, but one would occasionally be convenient. I could get 20 bails of pine needles in my Model X or a load of pavers when I had to.

Most likely would not have purchased if it looked like a normal truck, but might be able to change my mind if I drove one as a loaner or something.

Stainless Steel body, Powershare, drive by wire and 4-wheel steering clinched the deal for me. Looks big, but feels a lot smaller in parking lot.

 

[GmP]

It’s not that I normally like to be different, but in this case wanting it to be different was a prime reason, together with experiencing the ongoing development of FSD.

 

[Lenny 1973]

22 MY LR couldn't get 250 miles under 40 degrees
23 X same as Y traded because range was not as advertised and FSD was not trusted
23 R1T Max pack 369 miles gets me the 250 I need consistently for work commute but no FSD. R1T has been awesome but it does not have FSD

Waiting on 26 PAWD with expectations of at least 280 consistent drivable miles. FSD and safety will be the only reason for the switch. If advertising 315-325 miles it needs to get 300 minimum going the speed limits using sloth

 

[JerseyMike]

22 MY LR couldn't get 250 miles under 40 degrees
23 X same as Y traded because range was not as advertised and FSD was not trusted
23 R1T Max pack 369 miles gets me the 250 I need consistently for work commute but no FSD. R1T has been awesome but it does not have FSD

Waiting on 26 PAWD with expectations of at least 280 consistent drivable miles. FSD and safety will be the only reason for the switch. If advertising 315-325 miles it needs to get 300 minimum going the speed limits using sloth

if range is the biggest concern then the standard AWD will likely get you max range, (PAWD with 18s would likely get about the same)

driveable range with PAWD (in my experience is in the 250 range)....ie at 80% it registers around 260-265 on the guess-o-meter....more if driving city and less if highway

 

[EricGregori]

22 MY LR couldn't get 250 miles under 40 degrees
23 X same as Y traded because range was not as advertised and FSD was not trusted
23 R1T Max pack 369 miles gets me the 250 I need consistently for work commute but no FSD. R1T has been awesome but it does not have FSD

Waiting on 26 PAWD with expectations of at least 280 consistent drivable miles. FSD and safety will be the only reason for the switch. If advertising 315-325 miles it needs to get 300 minimum going the speed limits using sloth

I have a 23 LR MY that I drive back and forth from Chicago to Detroit year around and I get 200+ miles on a 100% charge still at +30K miles. I do keep the car in chill mode (better range and saves tires) and I always use FSD.

 

[Lenny 1973]

I have a 23 LR MY that I drive back and forth from Chicago to Detroit year around and I get 200+ miles on a 100% charge still at +30K miles. I do keep the car in chill mode (better range and saves tires) and I always use FSD.

My weekly commute one way to the hospital is 250 miles. You still need another 30 miles minimum to safely grab dinner and charge overnight in the garage or hotel.

I don't care to make time for a 10-15 minute charge to and from. That gets old when stressed and in a hurry. I have been saving over $1000 per month and several minutes per week not paying at the pumps. I do charge my R1T to 95-100% depending on the season but it arrives with plenty of miles. Rarely any phantom draining unlike both Teslas would do in 22 and 23. Hopefully they have changed. My battery health is solid still getting 369 at 100% which is basically where it was in 23. I'm counting on FSD in sloth starting each trip around 95% will achieve 280-290 available real world miles. Charging to 100% in the winter is a must when below 40 degrees. That's where the Y and X would completely fail. I never used FSD in 22 and 23.

 

[EricGregori]

Are you familiar with: https://www.youtube.com/@bjornnyland

He did some Model Y winter testing.
Tesla Model Y LR RWD 41F 297 miles.

He has tested many of the trims at various Temps. Great videos too.

 

[roadrunner32]

Best answer!!

I gave up worrying about what other people think around my junior year in high school. It really surprised me that so many people weigh "popularity" so high when making such a big purchase.

 

[roadrunner32]

I agree Eric, at the 2019 reveal I said "I'm not getting that thing" for the way it looked but about a week later changed my mind. I'm surprised no one has stated their preference for an EV truck because it is a huge FYI to foreign oil. I thought strongly about that 20 years ago yet here we are again but now we have an alternative.

 

[HaulingAss]

Year-to-date sales figures (Q1 2026) for major battery-electric (BEV) pickup trucks in the U.S. include:

• Tesla Cybertruck: 3,519 units
• Ford F-150 Lightning: 2,060 units
• Rivian R1T: 1,658 units
• Chevrolet Silverado EV: 1,406 units
• GMC Sierra EV: 1,288 units
• GMC Hummer EV: 1,653 units

The interest in "range extenders" clearly implies that today's full-sized EV trucks -- regardless of appearance -- have a range problem. You may be perfectly satisfied with your Cybertruck's range, and that's great, but the market may not see it that way.

I think the sales numbers above disprove your theory that a lack of range is the limiting factor to EV truck sales. If that were the case, the best-selling EV truck (the Cybertruck) would be the truck that offered the most range, instead, the trucks with the most available range (Silverado/Sierra) have the lowest sales of all EV trucks! If range was the main issue, then I would expect the truck that offered nearly 500 miles of range would be at or near the top of the sales charts. Instead, it's at the bottom!

As an EV only driver for 8+ years I've learned that, yes, you need enough range to make longer trips effortless, but that doesn't imply it has to be a huge number. What really matters is the charging location and reliability of DCFC opportunities (and the ability to pile on a lot of range in in the time of a typical rest break). This later factor is affected by the efficiency of the truck, some trucks are simply more efficient than others which means they can travel further on a shorter charge stop (all else being equal). Those who don't understand that electric vehicles require a different mentality around how they are best used are the ones that seem to think they need more range. The actual sales numbers show that people get it. The Silverado offers trims with different battery sizes, even though the launch model had the largest "Max Pack" capable of nearly 500 miles, the smaller battery in the "Extended Range" outsells it. That proves that price is a bigger limiting factor than range.

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