Domenick
Well-Known Member
A rendering showed up the other day of a next-gen Tesla Roadster that incorporated the stressed-skin design of the Cybertruck. I don't typically write up these types of posts (renders) unless asked, but I thought this one offered an opportunity to ask a question: if manufacturing vehicles with this type of exoskeleton results in products that are cheaper, lighter and stronger, why not use it for other future vehicles?
Ironically, the Roadster may be the least likely candidate for this treatment because (and I'm assuming here) you can't get the aerodynamic profile you want in a performance vehicle. However, it might be good for a future low-cost vehicle.
With pretty much every traditional OEM introducing more EVs now, the challenge is now getting an EV into production that will push them (OEMs) to lower prices and make them more accessible. To do that, you need a super low-cost car with still a good amount of range and functionality. My suggestion is a hatchback that comes in under $20,000 (preferably $18k, really).
It's hard to get a great aerodynamic profile with a shortish hatch, so I think that trade-off has less weight here, especially if the reduced weight -- which is more of an efficiency factor -- helps keep the energy needed per mile lowish.
Of course, a low-cost car doesn't need to be bulletproof, so a lighter, cheaper metal would help out. I picture something like, say, a Chevy Spark or Toyota Yaris but a single plane hood/windshield (a la Cybertruck). Or, maybe, an-even-more-cubist 1st-gen Scion Xb (actually, now that I think about it, this design might could be my favorite because it has some much interior space for its footprint).

Ironically, the Roadster may be the least likely candidate for this treatment because (and I'm assuming here) you can't get the aerodynamic profile you want in a performance vehicle. However, it might be good for a future low-cost vehicle.
With pretty much every traditional OEM introducing more EVs now, the challenge is now getting an EV into production that will push them (OEMs) to lower prices and make them more accessible. To do that, you need a super low-cost car with still a good amount of range and functionality. My suggestion is a hatchback that comes in under $20,000 (preferably $18k, really).
It's hard to get a great aerodynamic profile with a shortish hatch, so I think that trade-off has less weight here, especially if the reduced weight -- which is more of an efficiency factor -- helps keep the energy needed per mile lowish.
Of course, a low-cost car doesn't need to be bulletproof, so a lighter, cheaper metal would help out. I picture something like, say, a Chevy Spark or Toyota Yaris but a single plane hood/windshield (a la Cybertruck). Or, maybe, an-even-more-cubist 1st-gen Scion Xb (actually, now that I think about it, this design might could be my favorite because it has some much interior space for its footprint).