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Last Updated on: 5th May 2025, 08:37 pm
The Tesla Cybertruck is the most polarizing vehicle to hit the market in recent memory, with its brutalist design coupled with Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk’s unflinching desire to build the ultimate electric truck from every boy’s dreams.
If you can get past the harsh exterior lines and the raw stainless steel exoskeleton, the Cybertruck has a number of meaningful and disruptive innovations packed into its stainless steel skin that set it apart from the masses.
Disclaimer: As part of a broad cleantech portfolio aimed at accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and transport, the author has maintained a long position in Tesla and Rivian stock with no plans to sell in the near future.
Full Self Driving
First and foremost is Tesla’s Full Self Driving suite. The Cybertruck comes equipped with the fourth iteration of Tesla’s sensing and autonomous vehicle computational hardware, known as AI4.
After years of integrating solutions from providers like Mobileye and Nvidia, the hardware powering Tesla’s FSD system is now designed and built in-house by Tesla’s AI and hardware teams. Tesla’s journey towards bringing its vision of a fully autonomous vehicle to customers has been fraught with pitfalls and overly optimistic timelines, but with AI4 hardware and the new FSD software, it is finally coming into its own.
Off-roading outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, with Raphael and Nancy — aka Teslatino and TSLATNA. They took their expedition-built Cybertruck up to the Arctic Ocean as part of the Arctic Cybertrek. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
Tesla recently supercharged this hardware suite with its latest software stack, dubbed version 13. Version 13 is perhaps the closest thing we’ve ever experienced to being in a fully autonomous vehicle. It is able to go literally from a parking spot in a private parking lot all the way to your destination effectively intervention free.
Over the course of driving more than 15,000 miles since taking delivery of our new 2024 all-wheel drive Cybertruck, I can say now that using version 13 of this new software effectively eliminates the need for critical interventions.
Said another way, just about every single drive in the Cybertruck with Full Self Driving requires essentially no input from the driver. The in-cabin camera in the Cybertruck monitors the driver and ensures you are paying attention, because, after all, Tesla’s Full Self Driving does require driver supervision since it is not a fully autonomous software stack — yet.
Exploring the remote backcountry of Big Bend National Park on Glenn Springs Road. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
At the end of the drive, the vehicle now looks for parking spaces and attempts to end the ride in the most logical way possible. In our testing, there are still some rough edges to be smooth over in this portion of the drive, but it has occasionally arrived in a parking lot and prompted us to select a parking space for it to automatically park in.
Steer-by-Wire
If you do want to take the wheel and drive the vehicle yourself, whether it be around your neighborhood on the freeway or getting off into the dirt on some trails, another one of Tesla’s first-to-market innovations comes to the rescue. The Cybertruck is the first high-volume production vehicle to utilize a steer-by-wire system.
What that means is that there is no mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the steering rack that physically moves the wheels side to side when you turn the wheel. Instead, Tesla has replaced the steering linkage with a fully digital system that interprets the driver’s turning of the steering wheel and replicates that with a dual-motor steering rack.
Camping with the Cybertruck and Tesla’s Cybertent is streamlined and comfortable even in the snowy hills of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
That doesn’t sound very sexy, but in practice, it’s nothing short of magic. Because there is no mechanical link from the steering wheel to the steering rack, Tesla is able to dynamically adjust the steering input depending on the speed the vehicle is moving, how fast the wheel is being turned, and other variables to fine-tune the steering response.
The result is steering that is extremely precise and can be tuned to the driver’s preference in the vehicle’s settings with comfort, sport, off-road, and a custom profile that can be tweaked to your heart’s content. It also means that the driver can turn the wheels from lock to lock without having to let go of the steering wheel. That’s a game changer for a full-sized truck, and paired with the dynamic assist, makes the massive Cybertruck a dream to drive.
Another key technological differentiator that Tesla delivered with the Cybertruck is rear-wheel steering. The Cybertruck features a second steering rack on the rear wheels that allows them to turn side to side up to 10°. Coupled with the steer-by-wire system in the car, the rear-wheel steering makes the Cybertruck extremely nimble and agile. It can make complete U-turns and much tighter three-point turns than you would otherwise be able to accomplish for a vehicle this large, and with much less movement of the steering wheel.
Exploring the Alabama Hills at the foot of Mount Whitney in California. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
It’s a fascinating innovation that allows for much more control of the vehicle and makes it much easier to get comfortable driving the vehicle because it is so agile and nimble in tight spaces. I’m not a truck guy and will admit wholeheartedly that this is my first truck. Take any of my opinions on driving large vehicles with a grain of salt. If you’re used to driving a large truck, the Cybertruck will still be much nicer to drive and is much more nimble than its peers because of how beautifully integrated and well-tuned its steer-by-wire and rear-wheel-steering systems are.
Charging
Tesla has been the dominant force in public fast charging for the better part of the last decade, and that’s showing no signs of changing anytime soon. It feels like we are currently in an awkward transition period where all of the important manufacturers have committed to moving to the North American Charging Standard (NACS), as have most of the the charging network operators — on paper. In reality, non-Tesla public charging infrastructure is still largely CCS, with only a few NACS chargers up and running outside the Tesla Supercharger network.
Supercharging in Shamrock, Texas. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
This makes the Tesla Supercharger network paired with one of Tesla’s vehicles one of the easiest to use and most integrated systems if you want to have a successful road trip or expedition. This was a small factor for me, but it did push me towards the Cybertruck over comparable electric off-road vehicles
In this regard, however, the Cybertruck is not perfect. For some reason, Tesla made the awkward design decision to utilize a shape for the charging door on the Cybertruck that does not allow the existing CCS adapter to fit. Aftermarket options like those from A2Z do exist, but it seems silly to drop another $120 on an adapter that we know will only be used a handful of times at best over the next 24 months as charging network operators update their cables to NACS.
Fast charging at an Electrify America station in Williams, Arizona with A2Z’s CCS Cybertruck adapter. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
On the flip side, however, Tesla has continued to improve the maximum charging speeds of the Cybertruck in parallel to the rollout of its v4 Superchargers. The version 4 superchargers currently max out at 500 kW for passenger vehicles and as of this week, the fastest charging speed I’ve seen in the Cybertruck is 324 kW. More important than peak charging rate is how fast they can push a ton of kilowatt-hours into the battery.
Charging speeds continue to be an area Tesla still has work to do on if it’s to maintain not just its dominance in public charging network reliability, but in the overall sustained charging rate. The larger battery and lower efficiency of the Cybertruck compared to Tesla’s more efficient passenger vehicles makes this even more of an opportunity when road tripping.
Durability
One of the key selling points Tesla seemed to be pushing for the Cybertruck was its extremely durable stainless steel exoskeleton and windows made from what it was calling at the time armored glass. While I don’t care if the vehicle itself can’t actually stop bullets, I do love that the stainless steel and double layer laminated glass windows are extremely durable.
Playing in the Bishop Sandbox. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
This is important when taking the vehicle off-road onto trails where rocks, dirt, mud, snow, sleet, rain, trail, bushes, trees, and the like are all constantly attacking the vehicle. Off-road vehicles do tend to get beat up regardless of the make and model, but it is nice to know that the exterior of the Cybertruck should hold up to the majority of normal use and abuse on the trail.
Over the first 15,000 miles, I’ve hit it with snow, sleet, hail, sand, gravel, rocks, trees, bushes, thorns, and so much more. Not only has the exterior held up well, but it has become a point of confidence. I’m not worried about scratching paint or hitting a branch that might dent the car. It’s tough, and that’s one less thing to worry about when I’m out enjoying nature.
Off-roading is one thing, but durability also plays a role in day-to-day practicality. With just about every car I’ve owned, they have sustained a range of nicks and scrapes — from random buttons on my pants to a knife clip on my pocket, all the way on up to slightly more severe things like dropping an ebike off the rack onto the trunk or a nearby car mirror leaving a mark on the paint.
Dispersed camping in the Appalachian Mountains. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
The stainless steel exoskeleton is not impenetrable, but it is much more durable and robust than any other painted vehicle out there. Additionally, the 1.8 mm thick stainless steel door exteriors and the 1.4 mm body panels otherwise are much thicker and more durable than the thin steel and aluminum body panels used by most manufacturers. Again, this isn’t life-changing, but it is just another check on the side of the Tesla Cybertruck compared to other vehicles in its class.
Air Suspension
The Tesla Cybertruck comes equipped with air suspension that’s design for off-roading. What this means is you can go from the low “easy-entry” profile that sets the vehicle height to something just below an average SUV. The Cybertruck typically cruises around town and on the freeway in the low setting by default. This is where you’re maximizing the balance of aerodynamic efficiency while still providing enough ground clearance so you’re not smashing into things when you’re driving around town.
Fast charging at Franklin’s Charging in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
Being able to dynamically adjust the suspension and height of the Cybertruck on the fly is really nice. Running the truck at lower heights optimizes the vehicle for the best aerodynamic performance at a height that’s easy to get into and out of. If you want to go for a quick rip on some trails with the family, you simply toggle the height to high, wait a few seconds, and get to playing. Simple. Easy. Awesome.
Within each of the driver profiles, you’re able to set the default ride height, allowing you to customize just how much clearance you want for each drive. You’re also able to use the air suspension in tandem with the vehicle’s GPS to automatically raise or lower the suspension. For instance, if there’s a steep driveway or steep speed bump that you need to overcome every time you drive, you’re able to set it once and forget it.
Those settings are fun, and much like what you get in the Tesla Model S and X, but the real fun comes when you kick it into the higher settings.
Off-roading in Big Bend National Park. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
The Tesla Cybertruck also has an off-road mode that raises the vehicle up to the high suspension setting and unlocks some additional driving modes that make it easy to tune the truck to the exact type of terrain you’re expecting. This includes settings for general all-terrain travel, deep snow, rocks, and even a Baja Mode where you can adjust how much power goes to the front and rear motors. It is a ton of fun if you want to loosen up the rear end of the vehicle and throw the tail around a bit on some corners. Even within Baja Mode, there are additional settings for the type of terrain. Each of these comes with a unique profile for how the power is allocated to the motors as well as a different suspension setting.
I’ve put several hundred miles on a Cybertruck on various trails across the country, stretching from muddy trails outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to dirty and dusty desert in Big Bend National Park to snowy, rocky trails up near Mammoth, California. In that time, I’ve used many of the different settings in Tesla’s off-road mode, and it only continues to amaze me after 15,000 miles.
My favorite part of Tesla’s off-road suite — while not suspension related — is Trail Assist Mode. It’s like FSD for the dirt. Essentially, you set a speed for the vehicle to travel at and it uses its motors and brakes to maximize traction while keeping the speed as consistent as possible.
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On a recent trip, I went out to Bishop, California, with Dennis and we explored Silver Canyon Road. The ascent was amazing, and ultimately we were stopped by some thick snow banks up near the ridge line. On the way back down, we realized just how steep the roads we had been climbing were when descending the naked 20° slopes. Popping the Cybertruck into Trail Assist Mode instantly restored traction and control of the vehicle.
Coupled with the dynamic air suspension, Trail Assist is a game changer and truly unlocks new functionality for off-roaders looking to scratch that electric itch.
Overall
When looking to purchase another vehicle, I was primarily looking for a vehicle that could serve double duty as an efficient daily driver while also being able to deliver unparalleled off-road capability. The key to delivering both of these in a single vehicle is the air suspension, and based on the options currently available on the market, I was primarily looking at the Rivian R1S and the Tesla Cybertruck.
The Rivian R1S is admittedly more on-brand with what I’m looking to do with the vehicle and has a lot more fun features that make it a great option for off-roading — both from a functional perspective and from a cultural brand fit.
Camping on the banks of the Tennessee River. Image credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
Having said that, I opted for the Cybertruck largely due to the accumulation of the large number of innovations it brings that pushed it over the edge:
Tesla’s Full Self Driving software
The tunable steer-by-wire system
Rear-wheel steering
Native compatibility with the ratified North American Charging Standard (NACS), including Tesla’s Supercharging Network
Better thermal management, as demonstrated by owners of the Cybertruck in the first year
Tesla’s Powershare Home Backup System
I guess I’m just discovering what most of the country has known for a long time — that trucks are basically SUVs with a bed mounted to the back that’s designed for actual utility. The Cybertruck doubles down on that, with the ability to convert from the feel of a large sedan by lowering the air suspension to a massive lifted truck by popping it up to Extract Mode whenever you need it. The bed can also go into Stealth Mode, and indeed lives there most of the time with the tonneau that slides over it to hide and lock the contents out of sight and improve aerodynamics along an angle instead of the aerodynamically unfortunate open truck bed most trucks roll around with.
The looks of the Cybertruck are polarizing, but if you can get over that, there’s an immense amount of functionality packed into it that is truly groundbreaking for not just trucks or electric vehicles, but automobiles overall.
For more information about the Tesla Cybertruck, head over to its webpage.
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