In a recently published YouTube video, MotorMatchup sets out on a detailed physics analysis to estimate the weight, battery size, and range of Tesla’s much-anticipated Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck will be produced at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, and it will feature the same 4680 battery cells and structural battery pack as Texas-made Model Ys. According to Tesla, 4680 battery cells are store 14% more energy than the 2170 cells that currently power the automaker’s cars, and provide a 16% boost to range.
MotorMatchup‘s calculations indicate that Tesla will have to pack a 200 kWh battery into the Cybertruck to achieve a 500-mile EPA range rating, which the company and CEO Elon Musk have promised for the highest-end trim of the all-electric pickup truck.
Tesla’s 4680 battery cells and structural battery pack will be key to reducing the Cybertruck’s weight while maximizing range.
The Cybertruck will feature a steel exoskeleton and a pretty unusual shape, which will go a long way in determining the amount of drag the all-electric truck will experience on the road. The drag coefficient of an electric vehicle (EV) has a fair bit of sway over its real-world range.
As for weight, MotorMatchup estimates the Cybertruck could potentially weigh 7,857 lbs (3,564 kg) for a model packing a 200 kWh battery, and 8,289 lbs (3,760 kg) for a top-end trim with a 240 kWh battery.
Musk confirmed in January that the Cybertruck won’t launch in 2022, and production has reportedly been delayed to 2023. The Tesla CEO said earlier this week that Tesla’s primary challenge with the Cybertruck is affordability.
