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Cybertruck's Stainless Steel Body: Why Tesla Chose 300-series Steel over AluminuEngineering analysis of Tesla Cybertruck's stainless steel body construction, examining material properties, manufacturing challenges, and cost implications.
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Cybertruck's stainless steel body adds 700kg vs aluminum. In EVs where weight directly impacts range, is this trade-off justified?
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700kg weight increase = ~15% range reduction. Manufacturing cost savings might be $500-800 per vehicle. Is cost reduction worth the efficiency penalty, especially as battery costs decrease and range becomes less critical?
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Lars Moravy•VP of Vehicle Engineering, Tesla
Lars Moravy•VP of Vehicle Engineering, TeslaResponses (1)
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Lars Moravy
•VP of Vehicle Engineering, TeslaThe weight penalty is significant but the cost benefits are real. 700kg adds ~$2, 800 in battery cost (at $4/kWh) but saves $500-800 in manufacturing. Long-term, as batteries get cheaper and charging gets faster, the range penalty becomes less important. Stainless steel might make sense for commercial vehicles where durability matters more than efficiency.