▲Professor Kim Pil-su, Department of Future Automobile Engineering, Daerim University


“Tesla Cybertruck, Innovation or Weapon?”

The 'first' icon… 48V voltage, flat stainless steel applied
Weighing over 3 tons, large size, threatening surrounding vehicles and pedestrians

Tesla is an icon of electric vehicle innovation.

It is the first company that has succeeded as a global manufacturer by producing only electric vehicles, rather than being a conventional automobile manufacturer, and is a great source of inspiration for other global manufacturers, especially through the introduction of new technologies.

It was also the first to implement real-time wireless updates, OTA (Over The Air), leading OEMs around the world to adopt OTA and creating a software-centric future for mobility.

Tesla is also working on a method to continuously update its self-driving features, such as Autopilot, although it is not perfect, and to use countless satellites to make its cars continually smarter.

In addition, we introduced the giga press technique that achieves both completeness and cost savings by printing all panels at once, andIn addition to reducing wiring harnesses and enriching the flow of electricity in vehicles by raising the operating voltage of automobiles from 12 V to 48 V, many cost-saving methods in the process, such as developing low-cost ferrite motors, have also begun to be developed and applied.

The development of the 4680 cylindrical battery, the future battery structure, is also considered key.

All of these are innovative techniques that existing global production companies have not been able to apply.

The 48V boost for electric vehicles was first applied to the recently released Cybertruck.

On the other hand, there are many companies with negative views.

There are many cases where they are carried out in violation of each country's automobile-related laws, and they also receive a lot of criticism because their social contribution is very small.

Even in Korea, Tesla is evaluated as a company with weak information transparency and little social contribution, and its reinvestment costs are extremely low compared to the costs it earns.

Nevertheless, the Chinese-made Tesla Model Y is also showing a contradictory characteristic of increasing sales by more than 10 times while lowering the price by more than 20 million won due to lower options and Chinese LFP batteries.

Of course, the problem of LFP batteries that are not recycled will have to be considered in the future.

The recently released Cybertruck is, as expected, a model that was delayed by about five years since its release announcement.

This can be said to be similar to the case where reservations were delayed for more than three years after the announcement of the previous Model 3.

It also means that there are more problems with mass production than expected.

Although they have recently started delivering to those who have made reservations, it appears that there are still many problems lurking in the way of large-scale production.

This Cybertruck is also receiving a lot of attention in the global market.She is a model with a heart and a lot to say.

The Cybertruck is the world's first mass-produced model with flat stainless steel panels.

Stainless steel is a material that is difficult to bend and very difficult to process.

It has great rigidity, is resistant to external impacts, has excellent strength, and is heavy for doors and the like. It also has bulletproof functions, so it has excellent properties against external attacks.

However, because it is sharp, it is a material that can actually become a weapon depending on the area it is applied to.

In response to this, a method was applied to use the flat material as is and directly bend the last corner part.

It is the only model that does not have a paint job because it is difficult to paint and the surface does not corrode.

Because it is structurally difficult to make, there are many cases where there are many steps between panels and the spacing is not consistent.

As a result, even excluding the internal characteristics, the external design has a more metaphysical form than expected.

The basic weight of over 3 tons is also a problem, as this weight is higher than that of a light truck and can put a strain on tires and asphalt, and it is also difficult to meet weight standards in Europe and other countries, which is causing difficulties in exporting.

The interior is very Tesla-like.

It can be said to be a future form of computer-driven mobility that pours all its functions into a large monitor and has excellent connectivity with smartphones.

They deserve to be in the spotlight for their early adopter nature of enjoying new things and pursuing unique models.

This model also has the biggest problem.

This model was released several years ago This is a model that I was worried about when it was announced.

In recent automobiles, the safety of passengers including the driver is important, but the safety of pedestrians is also emphasized, so not only the exterior airbags but also the shape of the corners and materials are strict.

According to the Automobile Management Act, external corners should be rounded rather than sharp, as they can cause fatal damage to pedestrians in the event of a collision, and materials that can cushion collisions, such as urethane, are recommended.

This means that rather than withstanding strongly in the event of a collision or rear-end collision, it is more beneficial for safety for the engine room and trunk room, excluding the passenger compartment, to absorb energy by crumpling like an accordion due to the impact.

There were cases in the past where new car dealers would attach kangaroo bumpers as a service to SUVs purchased new, but now it is illegal to do so as it causes so much external impact.

In the same case, there are concerns that the Cybertruck could play a fatal role in external pedestrians and others.

This means that the altruistic aspect of ensuring one's own safety but neglecting the safety of others was not taken into consideration at all.

The first traffic accident involving a Cybertruck also occurred recently.

There was a minor collision with a Toyota Corolla model in the United States, with the Cybertruck only sustaining minor scratches on part of the front panel, while the Corolla was completely destroyed and ended up on the side of the road.

Another problem is that if a vehicle crashes into a road divider or the like due to its overly strong body, the surrounding safety infrastructure will be damaged rather than the vehicle itself, which could result in greater waste of safety infrastructure costs.

Rather than the vehicle itself being unconditionally strong, it is essential to create synergy through interaction with pedestrians and safety infrastructure.
> In comparison, the Cybertruck is a unique vehicle that was built to ignore existing mutual characteristics, which could make the problem even bigger.

Due to the nature of stainless steel, the edges of the door are sharp and have high rigidity, so there is a growing fear that it could break if you get your hand caught in it.

In addition, if the Cybertruck is introduced into the country, it could cause various problems, including driving and parking, due to its large body weighing over 3 tons and its bulletproof vehicle-like characteristics in narrow roads and parking lots.

Future mobility is evolving into a system that requires altruistic characteristics and consideration and compromise for others.

Legal cases are also naturally developing in the direction of building mutual safety.

It remains to be seen how Tesla's Cybertruck will impact this trend, and let's hope it doesn't end up being a global scapegoat rather than an icon of innovation.