Electrek - "Tesla Cybertruck teardown shows battery pack is ‘half empty’ and we are confused"

[Zoidz]

Electrek

A teardown of the Tesla Cybertruck showed that the battery pack is somehow half empty, which the chief engineer confirmed, and we are quite confused about it. At 123 kWh, the Cybertruck has the smallest battery pack of any electric pickup based on energy capacity.
...
Some Munro engineers pointed out it was basically “half empty,” and Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill confirmed it by saying that he prefers to think of it as “half full”.

Now the question is: why is the Tesla Cybertruck’s battery pack half empty?

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[Dark-Fx]

I thought perhaps it was designed for 46120 cells instead of the 4680, but it looks like the rigid cross members overlap the top of the cells in the pack, so really have no clue why so much wasted space. Could be one of those things where they were forced to make changes because reality was incompatible with their design goal.

 

[Autolycus]

They're specifically referring to empty volume above the cells? It also looks like a decent amount of space between cells. I assume the space between cells is because of cooling needs. I know Elon claimed the 4680 cells with their new jellyroll design was completely perfect in every imaginable way to facilitate cooling from the ends rather than between cells, but there are still decent-size gaps, so . . . ?

 

[agame32]

Could it be battery supply constraints and Tesla knew there would be an initial wave of people who would buy regardless? As supply improves, they can release larger battery options. (ie: same reason early max-pack was delayed… sorry if I’m re-opening wounds. lol)

 

[Epicloop]

So instead the range extender messes with COG & takes up valuable space in the box.
Now we know what happened to the 500mile truck.

 

[usofrob]

Looking at the video, it looks more like it's like 20-30% empty, not 50% as implied by 'half empty'. There really doesn't seem to be space to have another cell on top. I think the best idea was to be able to put different cell design within the same exterior package. Or maybe they were able to simplify the internal design to save space, but unable to change the exterior design because it was too far along in the design process. Or maybe they just wanted the passenger cabin that much higher?

 

[NY_Rob]

The answer to 99 out of 100 questions is money.

Why is the battery pack in the CT half empty.. money.

 

[Ralph]

Perhaps they intend to use the platform for some else that is much larger and can stand the additional payload?

 

[DuoRivians]

Tesla can’t enough 4680 cells as it is now. CT won’t be getting more cells any time soon

 

[ads75]

Air pockets help with the buoyancy when crossing water obstacles. Genius.

 

[Kev3in]

the cyber truck already weighs in at over 6600 lbs, so maybe they didn't want to add to that.

Another idea is that they "reserved" that space for later tech improvements, either a better form factor for existing battery technology, or space to acomodate new, lighter battery technology in the future.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

the cyber truck already weighs in at over 6600 lbs, so maybe they didn't want to add to that.

Another idea is that they "reserved" that space for later tech improvements, either a better form factor for existing battery technology, or space to acomodate new, lighter battery technology in the future.

When you make the entire body out of thick stainless steel instead of lighter materials you have to save weight somewhere

 

[Count Orlok]

need the space to haul drivers' egos.

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