Musk Reads: Cybertruck vs. Ford F-150, who wins?
The Model S gets a five-star safety rating; Tesla solar registers in Israel; and Musk’s defamation trial is underway.
The Model S gets a five-star safety rating; Tesla solar registers in Israel; and Musk’s defamation trial is underway. It’s Musk Reads: Tesla Edition #127.
A version of this article appeared in the “Musk Reads” newsletter. Sign up for free here.
Musk quote of the week
“I would say very little at all if I just said sense.”
- Read more about Musk’s first day of trial in a defamation case that was sparked after he called British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth a “pedo guy.”
Tesla
The race between the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 is on. The company shared a 16-second video clip of the new Cybertruck dragging the United States’ best-selling car uphill. Ford Vice President Sunny Madra told Musk to “send us a Cybertruck and we will do the apples to apples test for you,” although a spokesperson later said that Madra’s comment was “tongue-in-cheek.” Neil deGrasse Tyson noted that the video may not reveal too much about the Cybertruck’s power, as heavier vehicles create more friction that help it create more force. Read more.
A big benefit of the Cybertruck could be its drag coefficient, a measure of how smoothly it glides through the air. Musk’s goal for drag coefficient is 0.3, but fan-made simulations suggesting Tesla is already close to this goal may be misleading. Read more.
The Cybertruck may also prove useful in a somewhat more unlikely scenario — a zombie apocalypse. The Twitter account for the TV show The Walking Dead claimed this week that the vehicle would be “sick” in a nightmare scenario. It comes in the same week that concepts from the likes of Lego reimagine the Cybertruck and video game mods bring the Cybertruck to the virtual world. Read more.
The Model X has been awarded a five-star safety review from Euro NCAP, Tesla announced Wednesday. The vehicle reached the same mark as the Model 3.
Tesla solar
Tesla has registered a solar subsidiary in Israel, suggesting the company intends to bring its technology to the country soon. Globes, the news outlet that reported the registration, noted that Tesla has been making moves toward entering the market. This has included holding talks on expanding the company’s network of Superchargers.
What’s next for Tesla: Tesla is expected to host a Battery Investor Day on an as-yet unspecified date. Musk stated after the Cybertruck launch that the company wouldn’t be unveiling any new products for a while, so this could be one of the biggest reveals in an otherwise quiet 2020.
Musk Reads mailroom
James Chacko writes:
It is high time this Tesla vehicle enter India to clean up the polluted environment. Indian government should support this drive as Tesla fixes most of the problems in India.
Musk stated in August 2019 that the current import duties are too high to make business sustainable, as the firm normally pays for the local factory by selling cars there ahead of expansion. Never say never, though.
Stewwho Whozz writes:
Bring a Gigafactory to Perth, Western Australia.
Musk’s goal is a Gigafactory for every continent, so it seems Australia would be a candidate at some point!
Got any comments or queries? Don’t forget to send them over to muskreads@inverse.com.
Photo of the week
Reader Raymond Blessin shares this photo of his Model S home, complete with cool checkerboard flooring and a sweet red stripe.
The Elonporium
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The ultra-fine print
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A version of this article appeared in the “Musk Reads” newsletter. Sign up for free here.
