I rather like the look of Mr Musk's 'Cybertruck'. It looks as if it's been designed by an Origami buff.
It looks 'home-made', it has a simple aluminium body (I think), and I'd imagined it was pretty cheap to make; by the look of it.
The bodywork looks as if it's been stamped-out in about 4 bits, it has 4 chunky tyres, and appears to be a doddle to manufacture; Chassis, Engine, Wheels, Body; a few bolts and screws, and it's done.
I was interested enough to look online to see if I should buy one.
Firstly it's electric, and I'm not keen. I understand that the cheapest model will run for about 400 Kms before requiring a re-charge; not enough. It will reach 0-60 in 6.5 secs, but that doesn't interest me one iota. And finally it has a top speed of 175Km/h; I rarely go above 80.
Most importantly, I suppose, is the price. There are, of course different models from 'reasonable' to 'not so reasonable'. They start at about $40,000, and rise to $70,000.
I don't think I'll bother, but I still like the look of it..
Yes, I like the look too. Streamlined as it were. Simple yet stylish. Like a bullet.
ReplyDeleteYour reference to Origami made me laugh.
You say you don't like electric cars. My problem (as a pedestrian) that they sneak up on you, ie they don't make a sound. A bit eerie.
What do you think of "driverless" cars, cars that drive you? Personally? Personally the idea freaks me out! I'd rather be master, and destroyer, of my own destiny.
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My electrician has an electric van, and it makes no sound. It hate it.
DeleteAs for driverless cars, the first one I encountered was back in about 1960 in Oxford. It was in front of us with a warning sign on the back. It was being driven from the car behind us. We had somehow managed to get between the two cars. It was more 'radio controlled' than driverless.
There is a problem on the horizon at the moment, microchips are in demand and they are not going to catch up making them till 2023. Musk will have to rethink, and as Ursula says those electric cars creep up behind you with no noise.
ReplyDeleteYes, my electrician has one, and I find the lack of any noise very disconcerting.
DeleteI find it aesthetically displeasing. Until rural area have sufficient charging for travelling through Scotland there is no point in an electric vehicle for me.
ReplyDeleteI rather like it. It makes me think of a 1st Year Industrial Design Student project.
DeleteWell, it's different at least. I get a bit fed up with all makes of cars seeming to look the same these days. What happened to the different shapes we used to have, I could tell instantly what car it was then.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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That's the problem with computer design. You enter all the elements required and the computer always comes up with the same answer!
DeleteFor me it is not just electric cars that are silent. Being very hard of hearing means that nearly all vehicles sneak up on me.
ReplyDeleteThat must be nasty. I have a friend with a small Japanese car that is very quiet, in fact I asked him if it was electric. I like a car to sound like a car.
DeleteIt looks fine for city driving, but a bit silly for country roads and the weekly shop.
ReplyDeleteThe whole issue of electric cars becoming the only option is a problem in rural areas. A proper day out, Cardiff say, is over 200 miles there and back for us, pushing it on one charge. Going north/south in Wales would be worse because of the roads.
I'm thinking of setting up a business, trucks with mega charge capacity, to rescue those who run out of power in rural areas!
The bodies of electric cars should be made entirely of solar panels, so they could re-charge whilst travelling; but I do like your idea of a mobile 'PLUG'.
DeleteIf you believe in free energy you could pop a windmill on the roof.
DeleteCan't see solar powered cars working in Wales, Cro!
DeleteAW. I presume that Radiator Fans are not needed in electric cars, so why not keep them in place, connect them to a small generator, and let the speed of the car create it's own electricity?
DeleteTVA. Wind power would be OK. They're still working on rain power.
Solar panels on cars! What a great idea! In the summertime around here we'd get plenty of power that way.
DeleteThere used to be a trans-Australia race for solar-powered cars. Not much use here at the moment, it's been raining for days!
DeleteFor me 400km without needing a charge is fine. If you rarely go over 80km that is five hours of driving. The sooner we all move to electric the better as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeleteAt my age I'm still in the era of plugs, distributors, and petrol. If, or when, I replace my present car (the compact Royce) it will be for another petrol-engine job.
DeleteI am no longer a driver - after breaking my hip I have sold my dear little car - but round here I would certainly turn a few heads with that.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't miss it in Tesco's car park.
DeleteI had to go look up this truck. I was curious to see what the bed looked like. Interestingly enough, it is made out of rolled steel. It's like a little tank. It looks very strange.
ReplyDeleteI thought it looked like aluminium. It would have been lighter, but I don't suppose that concerns Musk.
DeleteI expect not. It really surprised me. The Delorean is made out of steel as well, stainless.
DeleteWhy don't they make swappable batteries? Instead of waiting to charge the things up, just go to a service station and swap the discharged battery for a charged one.
ReplyDeleteI think the batteries might be a bit too big - also all cars would need to have the same battery.
DeleteA few years back, I heard of an Israeli invention that would charge a mobile phone in a matter of seconds. I never heard of it again. I wonder if someone will come up with a similar idea for cars? We have a friend, Toddington Harper, who is creating dedicated re-charging stations throughout the UK.
DeleteThe amount of power a cell phone needs is minuscule compared to a car. Think of the size of 50 litres of liquid...that is a full tank of fuel for many vehicles.
DeleteVehicles will be electric in our life time, though perhaps not within our ability to continue driving. At some point, bite the proverbial bullet and do it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I understand, petrol engine cars will no longer be manufactured after a certain date, but one will still be able to drive the old ones. I shall stick with the old ones; they'll be much cheaper too.
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