It’s a simple reality we’ve encountered before. The Cybertruck’ s stainless steel design raises safety concerns among experts due to its angular shape, sharp edges, and rigid exoskeleton, which may not align with modern automotive safety standards.
Tesla embarked on this journey with the best intentions, aiming to create an exceptionally durable vehicle that would ensure driver safety behind a bulletproof exterior. Their goal was to deliver a tough, dent-resistant electric truck. However, in their pursuit of this niche, they risk echoing past mistakes.
Have We Seen This Before?
We have encountered similar safety and production issues before with another vehicle from history. Fun, intriguing, and ultimately unsuccessful, the DeLorean remains a cultural touchstone and has paved the way for the Cybertruck to follow – though it often finds itself stuck.
The Cybertruck’ s distinctive design features flat surfaces and long, linear edges, setting it apart visually. It is the first vehicle with a stainless-steel exterior since the DeLorean made its debut in the 1985 film “Back to the Future.”
Why Stainless Steel Is a Concern?
While stainless steel may seem like a fitting choice for an armored vehicle, it transfers more crash energy to the occupants compared to cars made from other materials. Though it may be bulletproof, its heavy and inflexible nature is problematic. Six safety experts, who reviewed crash test videos showcased during a webcast delivery event, voiced concerns about the potential risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles on the road.
Moreover, manufacturing and repairing stainless steel poses significant challenges. Once damaged, it is notoriously difficult to fix, requiring specialized welding and manipulation techniques. Tesla’s intention to create a vehicle resistant to dents and scratches could lead to substantial complications, as any dent would necessitate entire panels being recast and replaced. This process can be labor-intensive, as stainless-steel demands expert grinding services and precision machining.
Technology.org states you must be content with the cost if you need a stainless-steel vehicle. Stainless steel is more expensive than mild steel, sometimes costing twice as much as its gentler counterpart. Also, the process of steel machining required to produce car parts of a stainless-steel vehicle is complex and would increase the cost of production. This is why the DeLorean DMC-12, a prototype stainless steel automobile, only features an exoskeleton. It has a thin stainless-steel layer covering a fiberglass body. The implication is that the body can’t be repaired – it would require replacement if damaged.[i]
Why Were DeLorean’s So Problematic?
The DeLorean faced numerous issues, starting with being underpowered and overweight. It featured a rear-engine design at a time when even Porsche had not perfected this layout. The build quality was inconsistent, and while the stainless-steel body was innovative, it proved to be entirely impractical. Many early models were delivered with misaligned parts and incorrectly set toe-in angles, resulting in premature tire wear. Ultimately, the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) went bankrupt due to a combination of quality and production challenges.
Can Tesla learn from the past to reshape the future of stainless-steel vehicles? Will they manage to sidestep the pitfalls associated with their stainless-steel design, or will the Cybertruck, like DMC, become a missed chance to develop a more cost-effective and safer option for drivers and surrounding road users? We will be closely monitoring Tesla’s next steps to determine if they can take lessons from history or if they are destined to repeat it.
Fun fact: if you’re seeking a Flux Capacitor, visit https://www.enginetechcatalog.com and search for part number FC001-A
Sources:
[i] Delrosario, R. (2023, September 26). A Stainless-Steel Car Isn’t Practical. Advance Grinding Services, Inc. https://www.advancegrinding.com/blog/a-stainless-steel-car-isnt-practical/#:~:text=Stainless%20steel%20requires%20top%2Dnotch,taking%20much%20time%20to%20fix.
Frankel, A. (2024, May 6). The DeLorean was a huge missed opportunity | Thank Frankel it’s Friday. https://www.goodwood.com/grr/road/news/the-delorean-was-a-huge-missed-opportunity–thank-frankel-its-friday/#:~:text=The%20car%20was%20underpowered%20and,while%20remarkable%2C%20was%20completely%20impractical.
Noreika, A. (2023, December 8). Unsafe Design? Experts Raise Concerns about Tesla Cybertruck. Technology.org. Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.technology.org/2023/12/08/unsafe-design-experts-raise-concerns-about-tesla-cybertruck/
Scotty Kilmer. (2024, January 20). Here’s Why Tesla’s Cybertruck is the Deadliest Vehicle Ever Made [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeCaw9EAvmk
