Elon Musk’s hyper-cool Tesla electric Cybertruck will transform road trips across the US, thanks to zero-emission journeys and a cargo bed at the back that can be converted into sleeping quarters for campers. Emily Eastman reports
Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck, which was unveiled in November, is unlike anything seen before. When it is released in 2021/22, the angular, all-electric vehicle will not only have bullet-proof armoured glass windows and an Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin, but will come with an optional camper configuration with a pull-out kitchen, foldable countertop and sleeping quarters beneath a pop-up tent that extends upwards from the back of the truck.
The suggestion of using the Cybertruck for camping emerged in a Twitter exchange between user Lex Acevedo and Musk. When asked if the truck will be able to pump the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) to the cargo bed when the tonneau cover is closed for sleeping, and whether there is access from the second row of seats, Musk replied “Yes, probably and partially”.
With a maximum range of 500 miles (the base model will go 250 miles before running out of charge), it will prove popular among those keen on zero-emission road trips. Until the Cybertruck, most electic vehicles can’t go more than about 150 miles between charges. (The Tesla Model S can go the furthest at 375 miles.)
Tesla had been developing the Cybertruck since 2016, creating high expectations for when the vehicle finally launched near Elon Musk’s Space X rocket factory in Los Angeles. The battery-powered pick-up truck has space for six people inside, where a 17-inch touchscreen sits on a dashboard that looks like a smooth slab of marble.
The truck bed, under-bed storage, front trunk and sail-pillar compartments together create 100 cubic feet of locked exterior storage and there’s a built-in deployable load ramp for that can be using to drive a Cyberquad all-terrain vehicle up.
The top of the range “Tri Motor” Cybertruck starts from US$69,900 and gives the full whack of more than 500 miles of range, 14,000-plus pounds of towing power (perfect for your luxury mobile home on wheels) and zero to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds.
For an additional US$7,000, buyers can opt for Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” option, meaning those behind the wheel can relax and let the onboard computer do all the work.