Cybertruck updates - The RV connection

I have collected a few updates that relate to the tesla Cybertruck. Mostly tweets from Elon. The last section of this post is the most interesting section for me since I will be using my Cybertruck to pull a trailer, drive a ton and to do a lot of offroading trips

So I'm just sharing some things I've found interesting and sharing my thoughts about those tweets. This is a follow up to my Nov 29 2019 post
@jarvie/tesla-cybertruck

Update on construction of plant and Timing

Since this is where the Cybertruck is being built it's nice to not hear news about delays on the construction. There is still plenty of time that bad developments could happen and maybe the Texas snow storm did have some days of delay but so far nothing seems concerning to me.

Then again who really knows when the truck will actually be delivered. They are aiming for end of this year... but how many? A few dozen? Since I put in my order several days after launch my personal question is how long will it take me? I'm guessing it's probably at least a year from today... 3-4 months after the originals roll out. Then again we don't know if the 2 motor or my 3 motor start first or if they do them simultaneously ... so maybe it's not until late next year which would be sad.

https://twitter.com/AustinTeslaClub/status/1369631590326894594?s=19

- AustinTeslaClub

Updated truck coming Q2

A lot of people are talking about this tweet because it's saying sometime april-june there is some sort of substantial official update that isn't just Elon tweeting about stuff. He's alluded to a lot of things in tweets or in podcasts like how it may be a fraction smaller so it fits in boring tunnels but the hope is that in a few months we actually get perhaps even a new prototype done and on the road with some people testing it.

It would be great if they got it out testing some off-roading like what Rivian has been doing for a really long time now. Perhaps tesla has been doing that a lot, in secret, with the original prototypes but Rivian has certainly been much more open about it, even lending their truck to lots of drivers to use for off-roading events or cross country drives.

I plan to do plenty of off-roading along with the towing and day to day stuff... so fingers crossed they're ready for the off-roading part given the shorter period of testing... what they do have is many many many more years of testing their vehicles in general so Rivian as a company had lots of catchup to make anyway.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1368344522413903872?s=19

- elonmusk

Full self driving updates

Not fully Cybertruck related but of heavy interest as someone who is getting a Cybertruck with FSD so I thought I'd throw this one in here.

In recent months there has been tons of articles and mostly videos about people testing full self driving. I have assumed that by next year when I get my Cybertruck that it would have FSD from the beginning and with updates like below I feel even more confident that this is the likelihood.

In general FSD is one of the things I'm most excited by... I am mostly in the west. In 2019 I drove back and forth from reno many times for photoshoots and that drive is 500 miles without a single turn... oh how that would have saved my sanity. I am in utah a lot and going from slc to stg wouldn't even require FSD that's more like just lane assist and going a couple hundred miles in one lane with perhaps some help passing some semis.

I may not drive as often as the daily commuter type but I drive really long distances and I am one of those people that think FSD is safer specially in those long drive situations. I know that long monotonous trips are actually very tiring, there is something about driving where you rarely turn or encounter other vehicles that actually takes more out of your energy level than even a drive that has lots of twists and turns and higher stress. I strongly believe driving lonely stretches of america can make you more tired than heavy traffic city driving. Luckily i pull over and jump in the airstream a lot and will still be able to do that. But the point is now it will be safer AND i'm interested to see how FSD impacts if my brain gets as tired or i stay more alert.

Actually just yesterday i was reading an article that was showing that FSD drivers were on average more alert than some other drivers... one would guess it's something about the monotonous drone of driving compared to being able to give up the boring part and focus on actually looking around more. Anyway we'll see i guess what actually is the result of FSD in first person. I've recently driven a Tesla with drive assist stuff and personally i loved it.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1368017749851598850?s=19

- elonmusk

Plug in the RV

This is by far the coolest of the updates because it is what I am most interested in happening. The ability to charge my airstream or new trailer into the truck that will likely have 150-200kwh of battery for the 500mile range version.

As an example: I can run my full size computer, fans, fridge and 40" computer monitor for 8-11hrs on about 2kwh so having all that extra available would be huge.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1369919659898789891?s=19

- elonmusk

Related Considerations
Many others had related questions or suggestions and i did a screenshot of a bunch of them below.

• Going the other direction of having batteries in the trailer to help charge the tesla would be important. Obviously it's doable because you can simply run an extension cord. But the big question is if you can do it while driving?
• That would get some people buying Tesla Cyberwalls to add to their RV... which I think are only 13.5kwh storage but that's still by some estimations an emergency 25-40 miles. But also that's a $7600 cost for the power wall.
• By reference to the Cyberwall I saw today on Costco there is a deal for 2 lifepo (lithium) batteries a total 2.6kwh for $1400 which means 13kwh is $7000 so its compatible price. I guess it's about which one is more accessible, installable and good for your space. Also an RV person would also have to consider weight as well as space and what they have to charge it and inverter usage.
• Another fun thing to consider is that a trailer adds lots of solar panel space. But even a decent sized trailer at 22-25' would be pushing it to hit ~1kw of panels which is likely to only bring in 7-10kwh of solar on a good day. (Obviously tons of variables in that equation)
• Someone was mentioning how they hope there is the ability to pull into charging stations with an RV. That's a genuine concern and one I've thought lots about. Wonder how often I would have to unhook the trailer just to get a charge then hook back up. Or how many times do you just yolo.

PERKS OF THE TRUCK FOR ME - An update

In my previous post i talked about my reasons for why an electric truck would be good... so here's an update.

• I believe the truck will be better for offroading than my fully decked out tacoma
• It will be able to tow my 5000lb trailer much better
• It will allow me to upgrade to a substantially larger trailer (perhaps an offroad trailer like the black series trailer)
• With a larger trailer I can install much more solar. I would love to see 1-1.5k of solar on 22-26' trailer and then maybe carry some extra panels for some boondocking.
• I rarely go to any paid locations but I may be willing to pay for some 50amp spaces at some RV parks
• I have changed my electrical system to an inverter charger that will allow 2leg system which will allow me to step into 50amp system in the future
• My gasoline costs monthly presently average around 350-500 a month and during covid with not nearly as much travel as years past i'm still at $370 average
• Some back of napkin math says 500 miles at 200 kwh is 2.5miles per kw and if expensive electricity is supercharger electricity at 25 cents in utah (30 cents some other states) that means 10 cents a mile at the high amount. But lots of opportunities to get electricity for much cheaper with some suplimental options for solar. But factor in some towing and that decreasing the mileage per kw even at highest prices I'm still lower than gas for certain. I guess it depends if I find plenty of ways to get electricity not at super chargers but try to do it at houses more often even while running around with the RV.

RIVIAN?
It really is a viable alternative but it's more expensive has less range (which is specially important when towing since the range drops a lot... just like it does with my tacoma) also it seems like they will be very slow to fulfill the demand so if i jumped in now it would likely take me a really long time to get one. Also charging as I travel the country concerns me and the supercharger network does make me feel much more comfortable for tesla. It's all very different if you had a place you always charge I suppose.