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Straight steel is tough AF, it doesn't crumple the way modern vehicle metal alloys do. Teslas do have those titanium frames that protect the major areas of the

Straight steel is tough AF, it doesn't crumple the way modern vehicle metal alloys do. Teslas do have those titanium frames that protect the major areas of the vehicle (passengers and battery mainly), but the rest of the car can be crushed to smithereens and you'd most likely survive. Some parts of cars are steel, which is fine. But having the entire body of the vehicle be steel is where you lose any benefit. What's going to crumple when there are no crumple zones? Most likely your spine...

verdverm 3y ago
> What's going to crumple when there are no crumple zones? So you posit that it is impossible to make crumple zones with steel? That we cannot design a steel part that has crumple features? (or in Tesla's case, a single cast rather than numerous parts bolted or welded together)
- notaustinpowers 3y ago
  Mild steel is used in crumple zones. Stainless steel (like the Cybertruck) is not. Mild steel is much more malleable and provides a much better crumpling. As well as a whole lotta engineering behind the scenes to optimize the type of crumpling. Since stainless steel has chromium in it, it's much tougher when impacted. Which is great for being bulletproof, but is absolutely not the best choice when it comes to prioritizing passenger safety. EDIT: this isn't me being some contrarian cuz I don't like Elon. This is thousands of scientists' discoveries, research, and data over the course of almost 100 years at the tops of their fields in material sciences. If stainless steel could make a good metal to ensure passenger safety, we'd be using it by now.
  - verdverm 3y ago
    How about we wait for the actual safety tests before claiming it will be better or worse for passengers? I suspect Tesla will continue their industry leading safety ratings.
    - notaustinpowers 3y ago
      Tesla can't wish away physics and material sciences. Good luck!

verdverm 3y ago

> What's going to crumple when there are no crumple zones? So you posit that it is impossible to make crumple zones with steel? That we cannot design a steel part that has crumple features? (or in Tesla's case, a single cast rather than numerous parts bolted or welded together)

notaustinpowers 3y ago
Mild steel is used in crumple zones. Stainless steel (like the Cybertruck) is not. Mild steel is much more malleable and provides a much better crumpling. As well as a whole lotta engineering behind the scenes to optimize the type of crumpling. Since stainless steel has chromium in it, it's much tougher when impacted. Which is great for being bulletproof, but is absolutely not the best choice when it comes to prioritizing passenger safety. EDIT: this isn't me being some contrarian cuz I don't like Elon. This is thousands of scientists' discoveries, research, and data over the course of almost 100 years at the tops of their fields in material sciences. If stainless steel could make a good metal to ensure passenger safety, we'd be using it by now.
- verdverm 3y ago
  How about we wait for the actual safety tests before claiming it will be better or worse for passengers? I suspect Tesla will continue their industry leading safety ratings.
  - notaustinpowers 3y ago
    Tesla can't wish away physics and material sciences. Good luck!