New Tesla owners from YouTube channel Our Cyber Life, recently went on their first Cybertruck road trip from Austin, Texas, to Mesa, Arizona, sharing their experience and key takeaways.
The journey, spanning approximately 19 hours with stops for charging, offered insights into the practicalities and nuances of long-distance travel in an electric vehicle. The couple, traveling with two young children, drove for 15 hours straight. This is their first Tesla and they learned many things from their first road trip in a Cybertruck.
One of the most significant lessons learned was the impact of driving speed and air conditioning use on the vehicle’s range. “The speed you go and the amount of AC you use drastically affects your range,” said owner Zachary Mickelson, traveling with his wife. Their Cybertruck was wrapped in a custom green color by TESBROS.
Initially, they traveled at 85 mph, matching the flow of traffic, but soon realized that maintaining a speed above 75 mph was not efficient. Our Cyber Life noted a marked improvement in energy consumption when they reduced their speed and moderated the use of heating. The video noted their tonneau cover was open during the drive so that definitely did not help efficiency.
Comfort was a highlight of their experience. Mickelson’s wife, who had been experiencing wrist pain, found relief while driving the Cybertruck. “I probably did like 6 hours out of the 15 hours of driving, and not once did my wrists hurt,” she shared. Her partner echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the overall comfort of the vehicle during the long journey.
The couple was particularly impressed with the Cybertruck’s steering system, which they referred to as the ‘squirkle’ (a square-circle steering wheel). “The positions of all the handholds are so perfect,” they remarked, praising the ergonomic design.
Another notable aspect of their trip was the sense of community they experienced at Tesla charging stations. “It was so cool that all these people are just like, ‘I got a Tesla, you got a Tesla, this is awesome, let’s chat for the next 30 minutes,'” they recalled. This camaraderie among Tesla owners added a unique and enjoyable dimension to their road trip.
Check out the full video below:
Yesterday, Mickelson went 190 miles on the freeway using 76kWh, averaging 402 Wh/mile, which is not bad for a massive truck on 35-inch all terrain tires.
