Agree? Tesla & Cybertruck stand to gain from Lightning EV cancellation & Ford's pivot to hybrids (article)

[YDR37]

One of the drawback is that you need to have a generator able to produce
enough energy to fully move the truck when the batteries are empty,
otherwise you will have to drive at a reduce speed, like the BMW i3 low speed issue.

Note: The "BMW i3 low speed issue" refers to a known problem where ​

the optional Range Extender (REx) version could lose significant power ​

and slow to around 40-55 mph, especially under load (uphill, with passengers, or cold), ​

often triggering a "Reduced Engine Power" warning as the car tried ​

to manage battery charging, sometimes leading to lawsuits over sudden,​

unexpected power reduction ​

That's true. The BMW i3 used a 2-cylinder, 0.70-liter motorcycle engine as a generator. OK for recharging the battery, but you wouldn't want an engine like that to be the sole source of power for even a compact car.

The RAM 1500 REV will use a 3.6L Pentastar V6 as a generator. That's been the base engine in the ICE Ram 1500 since the 2013 model year, so seems like a better match.

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[PungoteagueDave]

Huh? We don't have to guess, the factory isn't done yet. Every Cybertruck out there was hand-built. The factory has been being rapidly constructed and out-fitted with production equipment through 2025 and should be ready to start a mass production ramp in the first half of 2026.

All existing Tesla Semi have been laboriously hand-built in small batches (and they had no trouble selling them). In 2026 you will witness the (relatively) slow ramp of the Tesla Semi and they will be delivered to customers as they come off the line and pass the basic quality control tests. The early charging infrastructure is being built out right now. It's the customers that are waiting, the Tesla Semi team is quietly working their asses off.

The Tesla semi was announced and a prototype demonstrated in November 2017. The first “delivery” was December 1, 2022 with rapid production ramp up stated by Tesla at that time. Production has since stumbled on cost and specification concerns.

Only about 200 Tesla semis have been built. The only commercial customer to have them is PepsiCo. They are finding range insufficient and cost trade offs difficult to quantify. There is no actual final pricing because Tesla is still struggling with the cost curve and all deliveries are on a test-acceptance basis, true beta.

The entire market for semi trucks in the US is about 450,000 annually. Whatever happens, it will be a niche and will not factor significantly in any future value calculus for TSLA. At this point the jury is out and may be deadlocked, with zero evidence of either the infrastructure you reference, nor any substantive movement toward meeting the other specifications or cost/range hurdles. It’s not easy, as the nine years since announcement testifies - still no real product.

 

[YDR37]

The RAM 1500 REV will use a 3.6L Pentastar V6 as a generator. That's been the base engine in the ICE Ram 1500 since the 2013 model year, so seems like a better match.

The new Scout brand is owned by VW. The Scout EREV will reportedly use a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder VW engine:

The four-cylinder engine will be sourced from the VW Group’s plant in Silao, Mexico, which has been operational since 2013. Previously, Scout CEO Scott Keogh described the range extender as a “good, high-output, four-cylinder, small engine.” As for its placement, the turbo-less unit will be mounted behind the rear axle. Scout’s Senior Director of Strategy commented that the ICE is “so far away you don’t hear it, you don’t feel it, so you still get the sensation of driving a quiet, small electric vehicle.”

No word yet on what ICE engine the Ford EREV will use as a generator. But Ford should have plenty of options.

 

[Cayden Thompson]

It would be nice to add steer-by-wire to the M3 and MY, but this is not needed for right-hand-drive markets, because has Telsa already developed RHD versions of those high-volume models. I believe the Berlin factory makes the RHD MYs for Europe (UK/Ireland). The Shanghai factory makes the RHD MYs for Asia and Australia, and also all RHD M3s.

I don't think the US factories (Fremont and Austin) make any RHDs. The Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck are made only in the US, and there are no RHD versions, presumably because these are low-volume models and the investment wouldn't be worth it.

So in France, which has LHD like the US, the Tesla website offers the full S3XY lineup. But across the channel in the UK, which has RHD, the Tesla lineup consists only of the 3Y; they don't offer the SX because Tesla doesn't make RHD versions.

I guess Shanghai makes LHD Model 3s/Ys as well since that's how they drive in the Philippines.

 

[YDR37]

I guess Shanghai makes LHD Model 3s/Ys as well since that's how they drive in the Philippines.

They do. In fact, most Shanghai production is LHD, because that's how they drive in China. But Shanghai also makes RHD M3s and MYs for countries like Japan and Australia.

Most Berlin production is LHD as well, because that's how they drive in continental Europe. But Berlin also makes RHD MYs for countries like the UK and Ireland. Berlin doesn't make M3s though, so all RHD M3s come from Shanghai.

 

[CyberTrk]

The RAM 1500 REV will use a 3.6L Pentastar V6 as a generator.
That's been the base engine in the ICE Ram 1500 since the 2013 model year,
so seems like a better match.

The dual motors Cybertruck AWD provides approximately 600 horsepower.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 can provide about 300 horsepower, or about 200 kW.

I wonder what will be the voltage and power of the generator connected to the 3.6L V6?

I imagine that the output of the generator would about 150 kW max.

The electrical power will be first converted to 400V or 800V,
allowing to recharge the battery but also send power for propulsion when needed.

So I doubt that the range extender would be sufficient to move the truck fully loaded
when going up a hill with a trailer when the battery will be fully depleted,
but will be sufficient when cruising at a steady speed,
while still recharging the battery with any surplus when available.

 

[YDR37]

The dual motors Cybertruck AWD provides approximately 600 horsepower.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 can provide about 300 horsepower, or about 200 kW.

The single-motor RWD "Long Range" Cybertruck made only 321 horsepower. Of course, it was also the slowest Tesla ever produced.

 

[CyberTrk]

The single-motor RWD "Long Range" Cybertruck made only 321 horsepower. Of course, it was also the slowest Tesla ever produced.

Also for better efficiency, only one axial provides the propulsion,
while the second axial is used to provide additional boost power.

There are also two types of motors:
- A Permanent Magnet Motor is more efficient and is used for normal driving and constant cruising, saving energy.
- An Induction Motor to provide strong, quick power for acceleration and towing, but is less efficient, but don't provides any power losses when spinning without any induction.

So there is this strange combination of propulsions:

Cyberbeast (Tri-Motor):
- Front motor is a Permanent Magnet. Rear motors are Induction.

All-Wheel Drive (Dual-Motor):
- Front motor is Induction. Rear motor is Permanent Magnet.

Rear-Wheel Drive (Single-Motor):
- Rear motor uses a Permanent Magnet motor.

Note: In the case of the Model S/X Plaid
all of the three motors are permanent magnet motors,
but when cruising the rear motors receive very little power,
to compensate the otherwise electromagnetic drag.



Going back to the RAM 1500 REV it would be interesting
to evaluate the performance provided by the Range Extender,
and also the possible combination of RWD and AWD.

The whole point is that the Range Extender primarily designed
is to recharge the battery when driving.

It can only provide additional boost and could only be used
at a reduce speed if the battery was depleted.

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