I just reserved a Tesla Cybertruck. My family will be safe from alien invasion for the foreseeable future.
— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) November 26, 2019
Hey now that we've had some time to let the initial shock of the Tesla Cybertruck's design settle, let's take a closer look at some of its features that have been raising eyebrows and questions as to whether the Tesla Cybertruck is dangerous.
It's important to remember that Tesla's goal was probably not to create a traditional-looking truck, which may explain some of the more unusual design choices.
And as we all saw during the window-smashing incident, there are still some improvements that need to be made.
But other details, like the all-stainless-steel body, raise additional questions about things like range and towing capacity.
With the debut of the electric truck, many people have begun to wonder about its safety and if it's legal to drive on roads.
Today, we will answer some of these questions.
Tesla Cybertruck crash safety
Does the Cybertruck have a crumple zone?
Former SpaceX employee told me: Cybertruck has air system compressor system. It would be easy to carry over to Roadster. Thrusters are super safe, they are used on the Falcon first stage. Easy for Roadster to have a cold thrust rocket booster linked to computer system.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) March 8, 2021
1/3
Tesla's Cybertruck is raising some serious safety concerns among the public. With its unique and heavyweight design, many are wondering if the truck will be able to stand up to impact in the event of a crash.
The IIHS has recently been forced to increase the size of their crash-test barriers due to the increased weight of trucks, and trucks as a whole are still considered a safety concern.
The Cybertruck's on-stage reveal did nothing to ease people's fears, and now people are wondering if Tesla has considered safety with this new design.
Tesla Cybertruck 30x ultra-hard steel is a strength or a matter of concern?
The Cybertruck's door panels withstood a sledgehammer attack by Tesla's chief designer, while its main competitor, the Ford F-150, received quite a notable dent because of its aluminum doors. There is some debate, however, over whether or not the hammer used was specially designed to cause minimal damage to the Cybertruck frame.
A certain amount of rigidity is indeed necessary for side-impact collisions. In those cases, you want the metal on the outside of the truck to act as a barrier. However, front and small-overlap crashes are different.
For those kinds of collisions, the structures on the front of a modern vehicle are designed to crumple and absorb the energy from the impact. According to Wired, several automotive engineers were concerned that the Cybertruck's lack of a crumple zone could be dangerous in case of accidents.
Tesla made the Cybertruck's steel panels 3x thicker than the industry standard, which could potentially make the Cybertruck a danger to other vehicles around it because of the added weight. Automakers and safety testers would have to increase safety features to keep up with the thick steel.
Is Cybertruck street legal?
Can the Cybertruck off road?
The steel panels not only affect the driving range or crash protection, but they also have an impact on the Cybertruck's usability.
As Autoweek and Jalopnik pointed out, the A-pillars are so wide that it would be difficult for the driver to see pedestrians.
And all of those pointy edges don't create a sense of confidence when it comes to pedestrian safety, which NBC News pointed out is a problem for European sales. Another question is whether there are front airbags, which are required by law. The interior of the Cybertruck shown doesn't have any.
There are a few things that Tesla will need to change about the electric pickup before it goes into production. For example, there are no airbags or even side-view mirrors.
While side cameras may be acceptable in some countries, they are not in the US.
Also, the headlight strip is not up to code in the US-the LEDs are fine, but the shape is not. The truck also has no windshield wipers.
While Tesla has filed a patent for actual laser beams to clean the windshield, another rumor suggests that there might be a single-blade windshield wiper.
Key Takeaway to the Tesla CyberTruck Safety:
Tesla has put a lot of thought and effort into the design of the Cybertruck, but there are still some areas where the truck falls short.
If Tesla doesn't address them, they might have a difficult time getting a road-worthy seal of approval from transportation agencies all around the world.
