Photo: @cybertruck via X
People have been trying to figure out how driving with open windows or no bed cover can affect range and efficiency. While tests have been mostly inconclusive, the Cybertruck can get a tangible range boost when driving with the tonneau cover closed.
People have been trying to figure out how the aerodynamics change when rolling down the windows. Many tests, including one from the Mith Busters television show, have not brought a definitive conclusion. This largely depends on the driving speed and how efficient the car design is. Driving a brick-shaped truck with the windows up or down would not change much, as it would still be an inefficient design. This is actually the case with most combustion vehicles, for which aerodynamics doesn't play a major role.
However, electric vehicles are a different species. The low amount of energy they carry in the battery means they must preserve as much as possible. Thus, aerodynamics plays a far more important role, and messing with it will quickly ruin efficiency and, consequently, the range. A five percent efficiency hit could mean not having enough juice to reach the next charging station, severely limiting the options for longer trips.
This is why we should be thankful to the guys at Car and Driver, who tested the Cybertruck to determine if the bed tonneau cover plays a role in the overall efficiency. Well, it does, and it is bigger than people might imagine. Although it is a truck, the Cybertruck is aerodynamically optimized. This allows it to have a range of up to 340 miles (for the AWD variant), even though the battery pack is rather small, at 123 kWh. Even minor changes in the Cybertruck aerodynamic configuration have tangible consequences.
Car and Driver tested the Cyberbeast variant, a tri-motor Cybertruck with 834 horsepower and an estimated range of 320 miles. The truck was fitted with 35-inch all-terrain tires and driven on a 6.6-mile (10.6 km) oval track to mitigate wind effects. The test was conducted at 75 mph (121 kph) with the tonneau closed, open, and with both the tonneau and tailgate open. The team also repeated the tonneau-closed runs with the wheel caps off to see how they influence efficiency.
The Cyberbeast averaged 58.3 kWh per 100 miles with the tonneau closed versus 64.2 kWh/100 miles with it open, which is a significant difference. That's more than a 10% increase in consumption with the bed cover open. This means that instead of a 250-mile real-life range, the Cybertruck will only get 225 miles when driven at 75 mph. If you're wondering, opening the tailgate did not produce a significant change, but removing the wheel covers brought a 1.7% penalty.
The team wanted to see what would happen if the speed was lowered to 65 mph. Sure enough, this reduced the energy consumption significantly to 49.3 kWh/100 miles with the vault closed. Opening the tonneau cover produced a similar result as with the 75-mph run, increasing the consumption by 10% to 54.2 kWh/100 miles. As you can see, you should drive with the tonneau cover closed to improve range, although reducing the speed will get you even further.
However, electric vehicles are a different species. The low amount of energy they carry in the battery means they must preserve as much as possible. Thus, aerodynamics plays a far more important role, and messing with it will quickly ruin efficiency and, consequently, the range. A five percent efficiency hit could mean not having enough juice to reach the next charging station, severely limiting the options for longer trips.
This is why we should be thankful to the guys at Car and Driver, who tested the Cybertruck to determine if the bed tonneau cover plays a role in the overall efficiency. Well, it does, and it is bigger than people might imagine. Although it is a truck, the Cybertruck is aerodynamically optimized. This allows it to have a range of up to 340 miles (for the AWD variant), even though the battery pack is rather small, at 123 kWh. Even minor changes in the Cybertruck aerodynamic configuration have tangible consequences.
Car and Driver tested the Cyberbeast variant, a tri-motor Cybertruck with 834 horsepower and an estimated range of 320 miles. The truck was fitted with 35-inch all-terrain tires and driven on a 6.6-mile (10.6 km) oval track to mitigate wind effects. The test was conducted at 75 mph (121 kph) with the tonneau closed, open, and with both the tonneau and tailgate open. The team also repeated the tonneau-closed runs with the wheel caps off to see how they influence efficiency.
The Cyberbeast averaged 58.3 kWh per 100 miles with the tonneau closed versus 64.2 kWh/100 miles with it open, which is a significant difference. That's more than a 10% increase in consumption with the bed cover open. This means that instead of a 250-mile real-life range, the Cybertruck will only get 225 miles when driven at 75 mph. If you're wondering, opening the tailgate did not produce a significant change, but removing the wheel covers brought a 1.7% penalty.
The team wanted to see what would happen if the speed was lowered to 65 mph. Sure enough, this reduced the energy consumption significantly to 49.3 kWh/100 miles with the vault closed. Opening the tonneau cover produced a similar result as with the 75-mph run, increasing the consumption by 10% to 54.2 kWh/100 miles. As you can see, you should drive with the tonneau cover closed to improve range, although reducing the speed will get you even further.
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