3 ms·

Also, it looks like an aerodynamic disaster with its sharp edges and square shapes.

ant6n 7y ago
I though the new school of aerodynamics actually does involve sharp edges, something about breaking turbulence. For example, check out the newest high speed train of Germany, the ICE 4, designed for operating at up to 265km/h, with the weird edges around the front: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_4_(Deutsche_Bahn)#/media/File:ICE_4_at_Nuremberg_Hbf.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_4_(Deutsche_Bahn)#/media/F...
sudosysgen 7y ago
CFD estimations actually put it to be a bit more aerodynamic than the F-150, actually.
- dragontamer 7y ago
  Depends on the CFD estimation. This one puts it at 0.47: https://i.imgur.com/MnY9lDO.jpg https://i.imgur.com/MnY9lDO.jpg An F-150 is 0.40. So according to this simulation, the Cybertruck is roughly 20% less efficient than the F150. Of course, all of these simulations are a crap-shoot. And secondly, towing efficiency seems primarily determined by weight / rolling resistance anyway. So I'm not sure how much CFDs really matter. On the other hand, electric batteries are more efficient. On the other-other hand, ICE gets more efficient the more weight you load on it. (Etc. etc. etc.) We can sit around and compare apples-to-shotguns all day, but whenever the thing comes out, we'll just run tests on it then. No point trying to make hypotheticals, just test it when it comes out. EDIT: Another point: the cybertruck, as revealed, doesn't have side-mirrors. So now we have to make a guess: will the final product have side mirrors? Is Musk aiming for a camera-based solution? Etc. etc. These sorts of details could change a CFD simulation significantly. Clearly, the design of the truck is in its early stages, and they still have a lot of work to do. We really don't know what the final product will look like at any detail where an accurate CFD-model could be made.

I though the new school of aerodynamics actually does involve sharp edges, something about breaking turbulence. For example, check out the newest high speed train of Germany, the ICE 4, designed for operating at up to 265km/h, with the weird edges around the front: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_4_(Deutsche_Bahn)#/media/File:ICE_4_at_Nuremberg_Hbf.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_4_(Deutsche_Bahn)#/media/F...

sudosysgen 7y ago

CFD estimations actually put it to be a bit more aerodynamic than the F-150, actually.

dragontamer 7y ago
Depends on the CFD estimation. This one puts it at 0.47: https://i.imgur.com/MnY9lDO.jpg https://i.imgur.com/MnY9lDO.jpg An F-150 is 0.40. So according to this simulation, the Cybertruck is roughly 20% less efficient than the F150. Of course, all of these simulations are a crap-shoot. And secondly, towing efficiency seems primarily determined by weight / rolling resistance anyway. So I'm not sure how much CFDs really matter. On the other hand, electric batteries are more efficient. On the other-other hand, ICE gets more efficient the more weight you load on it. (Etc. etc. etc.) We can sit around and compare apples-to-shotguns all day, but whenever the thing comes out, we'll just run tests on it then. No point trying to make hypotheticals, just test it when it comes out. EDIT: Another point: the cybertruck, as revealed, doesn't have side-mirrors. So now we have to make a guess: will the final product have side mirrors? Is Musk aiming for a camera-based solution? Etc. etc. These sorts of details could change a CFD simulation significantly. Clearly, the design of the truck is in its early stages, and they still have a lot of work to do. We really don't know what the final product will look like at any detail where an accurate CFD-model could be made.