Vehicle Safety: Cybertruck for Road Occupants
Over the weekend, Tesla gave a peek of the much-talked-about Cybertruck while it was participating in a crash test. This demonstration implies that the all-electric pickup truck is nearing homologation and getting progressively nearer to eventual delivery.
On April Fool’s Day, the video of a ‘Cybertruck crash test’ was shared, and it had many of us fooled. We were expecting to see the truck actually crash, however, the video was only 37 seconds of the Cybertruck almost hitting a barrier from multiple angles, without ever making contact. The footage appeared to be real, so we can assume that at least one of the vehicles has been sacrificed for safety testing.
When the crash test results ultimately become available, it is anticipated that the Cybertruck will be amongst the world’s most highly-accredited automobiles for safety. This has something to with its proportions, but notably has to do with Tesla’s enviable standing for crashworthiness.
Despite its more diminutive size, the Model Y was still awarded a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). With many Tesla cars having encountered potential fatal accidents in the past, the driver cells often remain intact – mirrored in the incident where a Model 3 driver was incredibly unscathed after their vehicle tumbled 40 feet. This is not an isolated occurrence either, as Teslas have been praised for their stellar crashworthiness ever since the original Model S posted unprecedented numbers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) test back ten years ago.
The Tesla Cybertruck has been touted for its “nearly impenetrable exoskeleton,” which is made up of Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless steel structural skin. While this is great news for those inside the vehicle, there are growing concerns that the same level of safety may not be extended to other road users. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists may not be as well-protected when sharing the road with the Cybertruck.
The much-discussed form of the Cybertruck with its multiple cutting edges has been rebuked for presenting a bigger danger to passersby, forcing security organizations such as the IIHS to adjust their assessment models to deal with more extensive and weighty EVs. This is without going into the probable result when a massive electric car collides with a lightweight vehicle. The already hefty Model X SUV currently surpasses 5,000 lbs, and the likely addition of an extra thousand pounds or so due to the new Cybertruck adds even more weight to this.
It is anticipated that the commencement of assembly of the Cybertruck will be taking place later this year.
