New Range Test Proves the Cybertruck Is Just a Zero-Emission Sports Pickup Truck

Tesla was the company that forced the hand of every other automaker to pursue the manufacturing of battery-electric vehicles. It started a fight with what used to be a very conservative business sector and won. It brought forward all sorts of innovations that slowly propelled it to the top ten of the most important American corporations. The efficient electric vehicle was one of those novelties, but the direct sales model and the Supercharger network were what sealed the deal.

But what Tesla didn't have in its portfolio was a pickup truck. Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors made bank by selling F-150s, 1500s, and Silverados. Then, Rivian came out of nowhere with the R1T. The Blue Oval quickly followed up with the F-150 Lightning, while the other two members of Detroit's Big Three group developed their own all-electric pickup trucks.

Tesla couldn't afford to miss out on this opportunity. After all, it was the brand that kickstarted the whole zero-emission trend. Enter Cybertruck. A vehicle that looks like nothing else on the road. It's also bullet-resistant, has rock-proof glass, has a sturdy tonneau cover, and boasts a cabin that pressurizes to stop unwanted particles from reaching inside. That also helps with sound insulation. It's one of the reasons why the sound system is rated as being impressive by many early owners.

Sadly, Tesla dropped the ball on efficiency. The 123-kWh high-voltage energy storage unit and the two motors aren't doing a very good job. Independent range tests conducted on highways revealed a total range of 254 miles. When the EV had to tow various types of trailers, the range dropped further than expected. Some got as little as 90 miles out of a single charge.

Don't lose hope

Despite all that, we need to remember two things: it's rather cold outside (EV batteries don't work very well in such temperatures), and the Cybertruck is a new pickup truck. We can't allow ourselves to judge this triangle on wheels based on just a couple of reports. Tesla could unlock some of the buffer to increase range or it could tweak the software to make the motors more efficient in some drive modes. It can still be improved.

What can't be improved is the charging speed. It'll remain as is unless the battery pack is upgraded. Its charging curve (the ability to maintain a high charging rate) is also not good.

Still, that shouldn't be enough to sway you away from buying one.

Unfortunately, Tesla doesn't want people to lease this pickup truck for two or three years and send it back. You either buy it outright or finance it. The EV remains in your or the lender's possession. You should be aware of that and make the right decision. Technology is now a key domain for automakers. The speed at which things change could accelerate depreciation.

But the numbers we've mentioned above are coming from dual-motor Cybertruck buyers. A tri-motor Foundation Series Cybertruck (aka Cyberbeast) owner decided to run his own range tests after seeing the reports published by various popular YouTubers. Keep in mind that, at the time of writing, there are only about 20 of these 845-hp EVs roaming around the US.

The numbers

The main differences between the dual- and tri-motor Tesla pickup trucks are the manufacturer-estimated range, the power output, the top speed, and the zero to 60 mph time. While the Cyberbeast bests the Cybertruck in all those categories, their towing capacity is the same.

Tesla fans might have already noticed that the output of the Cyberbeast is lower than what the Model S Plaid is capable of. There's a 175 hp difference between them, in case you weren't already aware.

So, range! He found that towing a travel camper weighing 5,700 lb (2,585 kg) at:

• 55 mph (89 kph) in Comfort Mode should result in an expected range of 132 mi (212 km) and an efficiency of 935 Wh/mi;
• 65 mph (105 kph) in Comfort Mode should result in an expected range of 105 mi (169 km) and an efficiency of 1,166 Wh/mi;
• 65 mph (105 kph) in Beast Mode should result in an expected range of 102 mi (164 km) and an efficiency of 1,205 Wh/mi.

Without a camper attached to it, the 6,920-lb Cyberbeast can cover 319 miles (513 km) on a full battery at 65 mph in Beast Mode with a couple of miles to spare for finding a high-power Supercharger stall. The owner closed the tonneau cover but removed the aero wheel caps.

It's also worth noting that these range tests have been conducted with the tires set to 65 psi and in sweater weather. The outside temperature was between 44 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).

Beast Mode also turns the brake recuperation up a notch. So, the range figure that's close to Tesla's estimate of 320 miles has been made possible thanks to regenerative braking, too.

There's a chance

Keep in mind that the figures above are a result of tests done one after the other and on the same day without charging the battery to 100% and then depleting it. Your numbers might end up looking slightly different.

To summarize, the Cybertruck (even with three motors) doesn't appear to be an electron guzzler or a battery hog. It just can't tow very far. However, it will drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on a single charge without a camper attached to it.

All in all, it's a good outcome for Tesla's pickup truck. It's still nowhere near "uh-mazing," but it's doing an A-OK job. If you can digest slower Supercharging, you should get yourself a new all-electric toy that also comes with bidirectional charging.

It's a sports pickup truck, and that's not wrong - not even one bit.