Tesla Cybertruck: A Design Marvel or an Eyesore?

In 2023, Tesla unveiled its long-anticipated Cybertruck. After its sleek EV models gained celebrity status, it launched its adventure tough-truck version, which Tesla claims is “durable and rugged enough to go anywhere” (1). 

The electric truck has a solid stainless-steel exoskeleton resistant to dents, physical damage, and long-term corrosion. Its distinctive design blends the innovative ideas of Tesla’s engineering team with Elon Musk’s unique vision.

In a report by Top Gear, Tesla’s VP for vehicle engineering says Musk wanted something that drove “like a sports car but has all the utility of a pick-up truck” (2). The result? One bizarre utilitarian vehicle on the Tesla roster.

The car-loving community is buzzing with mixed reactions! There’s a heated debate unfolding over whether this EV is genuinely an electric marvel. 

Top Gear weighed in, expressing amazement not just at the Cybertruck’s bold risks but also its perplexing design — it’s a vehicle that looks confusing from nearly every angle. What do you think? Is it genius or just plain confusing?

Are Electric Vehicles Really More Environment-Friendly?

According to a report published by the Federal Consortium of Advanced Batteries (FCAB) in 2021, a typical EV can create more carbon pollution than a gasoline car. This is due to the additional energy required to manufacture an EV’s battery (3). 

However, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over the vehicle’s lifetime, total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an EV are still typically lower than those associated with a gasoline car (4). 

Over its lifetime, an EV still has a lower carbon footprint because it has zero tailpipe emissions and is typically responsible for significantly fewer GHGs during operation than typical gasoline vehicles.

EV Evolution: From Status Symbols to Everyday Car

While conveniently getting from point A to B is excellent, people buy cars for other reasons, too. According to a study published in the Journal for Asian Transportation Studies in 2021, factors such as status seeking, image consciousness, a passion for cars, an obsession with cars, and peer influence increase the likelihood of purchasing a vehicle (5).

Meanwhile, BBC research found that electric vehicles initially appealed primarily to the wealthy (6). The first sales of EVs targeted affluent early adopters who were willing to embrace new automobile technology and could afford the higher prices. However, as Doherty notes, public sentiment is gradually changing.

Ultimately, because of the increasing availability of EVs from different car manufacturers, interest and sales are going up, and prices are going down— which means EVs no longer carry the cachet they once did. 

As the cost of batteries drops, automakers are getting closer to providing EV offerings that match the petrol-guzzling versions. Sure, there will still be a market for luxury EVs, but eventually, like gas cars, those will be the exception, not the norm.

References

1. Tesla. "Cybertruck." Tesla.com, 2023. | https://www.tesla.com/en_ph/cybertruck
2. Jack Rix. "Tesla Cybertruck review." Top Gear, December 1, 2023. | https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/tesla/cybertruck
3. Federal Consortium of Advanced Batteries. "Executive Summary: National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries." Department of Energy, June 2021. | https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/FCAB+National+Blueprint+Lithium+Batteries+0621_0.pdf
4. Environmental Protection Agency. "Electric Vehicle Myths." EPA, November 5, 2024. | https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths
5. Meena Sanu. "Identification of psychological factors associated with car ownership decisions of young adults: Case study of Jodhpur city, India." Asian Transport Studies, 2021. | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2185556021000055?via%3Dihub
6. Brennan Doherty. "EVs were once luxury vehicles. Now, they’re for every driver." BBC, March 12, 2024. | https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240311-evs-lost-their-luxury-status-symbol-reputation