Tesla Cybertruck Design Raises Safety Concerns
The avant-garde design of Tesla Cybertruck has sparked apprehensions among safety experts, who worry about potential risks posed by its rigid stainless-steel exoskeleton to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles on the road. in-depth consultations with six safety professors and officials who scrutinized crash test videos presented by Tesla during a webcast delivery event.
Despite the extensive online discourse following the live-streamed crash test videos on November 30, experts emphasize the necessity for tangible crash-test data to substantiate safety claims. Adrian Lund, the former president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), voiced unease, suggesting that the Cybertruck’s robust stainless-steel construction could escalate injuries upon impact.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, countered these apprehensions, affirming on social media his “high confidence” in the Cybertruck surpassing safety benchmarks for both occupants and pedestrians. Nevertheless, safety experts remain cautious, awaiting concrete crash-test data to validate such assertions.
Distinctive Aesthetic and Durability Features
The Tesla Cybertruck’s distinctive aesthetic, characterized by flat planes and extended linear edges, marks it as the first car with a stainless-steel exterior since the iconic DeLorean featured in the 1985 film “Back to the Future.” Emphasizing the vehicle’s durability, Tesla highlighted its utilization of cold-rolled, stainless body panels specifically designed to absorb impact during crashes.
During the unveiling in Austin, Texas, Tesla spotlighted key safety features, including energy-absorbing ribs in the front and rear structures, with the skin of the door bearing the brunt of crash loads during side impacts.
Notwithstanding these safety enhancements, concerns arose regarding the Cybertruck’s limited “crumple zones,” areas engineered to deform in crashes to safely absorb impact energy. George Washington University’s auto safety professor, Samer Hamdar, voiced reservations but acknowledged the potential compensatory role of other shock-absorption mechanisms.
Priced at $60,990, the Cybertruck is not positioned for the high production volume associated with Tesla’s Model Y. Nonetheless, Musk anticipates an annual production rate of around 250,000 Cybertrucks by 2025.
External Risks and Safety Flags
Safety experts focused their apprehensions on potential risks to individuals outside the Tesla Cybertruck, emphasizing its formidable nature in collisions with other vehicles. Julia Griswold, director of the University of California, Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, expressed alarm over crash test videos posted by Tesla, particularly regarding the heavy weight and high acceleration of the trucks, which raised “red flags for non-occupants.”
Tesla’s plans for selling Cybertrucks in Europe remain uncertain, with concerns raised about compliance with EU safety rules aimed at safeguarding pedestrians. The European Transport Safety Council in Brussels issued a statement expressing concerns about the potential lethality of the Cybertruck in collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.
In the United States, regulatory reliance on self-testing and certification by vehicle manufacturers has been a subject of discussion. Musk asserted in a recent interview that the Cybertruck successfully passed regulatory review, with the initial batch of trucks released to buyers just last week.
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