Great CyberTruck Review

Great CyberTruck Review

I have probably watched EVERY single CyberTruck review video on YouTube at least once, and most of them are a terrible waste of time. In other words, most of them are clickbaity, and say, 'blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, the CyberTruck doesn't look like any other vehicle on the road, and it has drive by wire steering coupled with 4 wheel steering which is very unique'. 

I want to learn about cool insight that everybody doesn't already know, or isn't painfully obvious, and that kind of 'out of the box' insight only come from critical thinking, and is hard to come by, and that is what makes TeslaMagazine.org far different than any other online Tesla resource. As you may know I have been publishing RolexMagazine.com for 18 years, and it's exactly the same, in the sense it's not like any other online Rolex resource.

The video review of the CyberTruck seen above is hosted by Dan Markham and is a pretty good review, as it offers some interesting insights. I was shocked to discover that he NEVER removed the wheel covers in the whole 7 months he's owned his CyberTruck, and he points out that your fingers will get all dirty removing them. 

This is true, and why I wear gloves when removing the covers. What he doesn't point out is the extreme benefit, of these covers is that since they protect your entire wheel, not only can you not get curb rash, but also they are wicked-easy to clean as you don't need to clean rims with all kinds of specialty brushes. For the record, I removed my rims a few days after having owned my CyberTruck, which explains why I thought it was strange it took him 7 months to do so, and I also thought it was kinda weird that he was complaining about getting his fingers dirty. I mean, welcome to the real world, as that will happen to ANY and EVERY vehicle if you don't clean them.

He also makes a point about how if you charge at the SuperCharger, it cost much more to charge up a CyberTruck than a Model Y, on a per mile basis. In other words, on a long road trip, the cost to charge up a Model Y, is close to twice as much to cover the same amount of miles. This makes sense as the CyberTruck is close to double the size and weight of the Model S, and the CyberTruck is King of the Road, where the Model Y is generic. Speaking of generic looks, I think his blacked out CyberTruck, looks pretty RaaaaaaD.

Speaking of Tesla Superchargers, I took the photo below at a Tesla Supercharger in Ashland, Oregon and I was shocked at how many different brands were charging at the same time. It's like the United Nations of Superchargers as we see Rivian, Chevy, in the image below, but I also see Ford Lightning and all kinds of other brands charging at Tesla Superchargers. Basically, most other brands, including Mercedes and BMW, just gave up, and threw the towel in and capitulated to Tesla for charging. In my estimation this is a harbinger and sign of things to come in the automotive space, as I believe in the next couple of years we will see the same thing play out with FSD. In other words, I think many, if not all these brands will switch over to FSD, cause if you can't beat em, you better join em.

I remember when Elon mentioned years ago that Tesla would not operate the service centers or superchargers as profit centers, which never really made sense to me. One thing that is crystal clear, is the cost to Supercharge is far more expensive that charging at home, depending unless you live in California which suffers from ridiculously high energy prices.

For the record, I am working on a super detailed video review of my CyberTruck, and I promise once I publish it will be unlike any other video review. I am also working on a number or reviews for superb accessories for the CyberTruck. As previously mentioned, I have watched EVERY CyberTruck review video, including videos on CyberTruck accessories, and I a surprised at many of the products people say they like, as so many of them are a waste of time and money. Since I am a hardcore designer, you can rest assured that I will be scrutinizing all CyberTruck accessories and ONLY sharing information on great products, so stay tuned for that as well!

Tesla Annual Shareholder Meeting 2025

 

Tesla Annual Shareholder Meeting 2025

Elon's $1 Trillion pay package was passed today by voters with more than 75% voting for it. Also the shareholders approved authorizing a potential investment in XAI. One this is crystal clear, and that's fact that the Best is Yet to Come!!!

How To Clean A CyberTruck in 15 minutes for under $5

How To Clean A CyberTruck in 15 minutes for under $5?

The title above was from the second video below, and in my experience I would say a more accurate title would be, "How to perfectly clean a CyberTruck exterior in 45 Minutes for under $2".

UPDATE: I was so fascinated by the videos below, I went to Walmart and purchased cans of Sprayway Glass Cleaner with Foaming Action for $2.48 per spray bottle. BTW: I also found them in a 4-pack at Home Depot for $7.26, which is only $1.82 per bottle!?!!

I used a total of 6 clean Costco microfiber towels, and one entire spray bottle of Sprayway. It did an amazing job, and made the CyberTruck look brand spanking new!!!! This was after having not washed it for a month. All in, it took about 45 minutes, and it started raining just as I finished up. After I got done dialing in cleaning all the stainless panels and windows, I took the saturated Costco microfiber towels, and used them to wipe down the door sits and Core Wheel Hubcaps and tires, which also looked great.

So the bottom line, is that for $2.50, and 6 Clean Microfiber towels, and 40 minutes of time I was able to perfectly able to clean my CyberTruck and make it look perfect—like it was detailed. The coolest aspect is I didn't have to mix anything, or use sponges or buckets, or clean up afterwards. My CyberTruck was pretty dirty when I started out, and in the future I will experiment more with this brilliant method, and update this article accordingly.

Another great takeaway for me personally is how amazingly simple a CyberTruck is to clean. Especially the wheels and tires, as the core wheel covers get wiped down and perfectly cleaned in less than 30 seconds, as you don't have to use a wheel brush, and you don't have to worry about curb rash either, since the covers are made out of a rubbery ABS plastic that completely covers the edge of the wheels, leaving them unexposed.

For the record, a few days after I took delivery I tried cleaning my CyberTruck with Windex after noticing a comment on a CyberTruck forum from somebody saying they liked how good of job it did. I tried using the Windex, but noticed it left some streaking, which the Sprayway did NOT.

The Sprayway cleaned it all perfectly. Not just the windows and stainless, but the black plastic wheel wells and bumpers. I used a total of 6 Costco microfiber towels, and the method I came up with was I would first do a deep clean with towel, then once it got saturated, and had materially cleaned a section, then I would go back over it with a new clean towel, which would not get that saturated. Then I would take that still pretty clean towel I had used to polish the finish, and then spray a new section and get it wet. Once a towel reach a saturation point, I would open the doors, and use it on the door sills, and then on the dirty tires and wheels.

I have been obsessed for a while about trying to figure out the best method for being able to clean a Tesla as quickly as possible, and naturally I came across the product named Rubbit, which I thought was interesting, but I didn't purchase or try it, but when I thought about it, I realized that the Sprayway CyberTruck cleaning method is was essentially exactly like the Rubbit, but:

-I didn’t have to purchase $150 worth of product.

-I didn’t have to charge up a USB-C sprayer, or worry if it was charged.

-I didn’t have to measure solution and mix it with water.

-It cost me $2.48 for one spray can of Sprayway, which covered the entire vehicle.

Rubbit Foam 2.0 costs $45 for a bottle that can cover up to 25 washes, which works out to about $2 per wash, but if you amortize the cost of the sprayer, probably ends up being closer to $4-5 per wash.

Now I am all curious about what would happen if I use Sprayway on a Tesla with paint? I will research it to see if it's safe, and if so, will tryin it out, and write a review of that experience.

I think in my quest to find the absolute simplest, easiest, most hassle free method to clean a vehicle, and certainly a CyberTruck, the Sprayway method seems like it must be the absolute winner. Also, it strikes me that when you go on a long drive Sprayway would also be great as you can keep a can in the subtrunk, under the bed, with some clean Costco microfiber towels, and just clean the front of the CyberTruck, or the whole thing if time and weather permit, when you are at a Supercharger. Speaking of Costco microfiber towels, they sell a 36 pack of them for around $20. The big advantage to using Costco microfiber towels, is you don't have to purchase a bunch of expensive big microfiber towels that you have to baby so you don't damage them.

Update #2: October 31, 2025:

I did some more research and realized that Costco sells a proprietary version of Sprayway Glass Cleaner, which is $8.59 for 4 Spray Cans, which works out to around $2.15 per canister, but the Costco version is 23 Ounces as apposed to the standard 19 ounces that everybody else sells. 

This is significant, as when I used the 19 ounce version not only did I end up using an entire spray can, but at the end the spray can ran out, and I was thinking to myself, if it just had a few more ounces, it would be perfect. So while the Home Depot version might be a little bit less expensive @ $1.85, I would rather have 23 ounces, which should be more the perfect amount to thourogphly lean an entire CyberTruck, including the rims, tires and windows.

--------------Original Article Below-------------

I just watched this video, and it blew my mind. I plan to try it out, and will publish my results once I have had the chance to experiment with this product. When I had a Model S, I was always preoccupied with the paint, not only cleaning it all the time, but was always freaked out about the paint getting scratched, as well as door dings. With the CyberTruck, that is not an issue at all, and since the CyberTruck is silver, or grey, it's essentially the color of dust, so it stays far cleaner looking than any other color. 

My Model S was blue, which was beautiful, but it was a magnet for dust, and dirt. Chris Rock, famously once quipped, when it comes to women, there are women that are high maintenance and low maintenance. I say, keep them both away from me. What I want is NO MAINTENANCE!!!! And that's the greatest takeaway when it comes to the way it looks. It's a truck, and thus I don't really care what it looks like...

More Cheap 'Diet' Tesla Models: I am NOT a Fan

 

More Cheap 'Diet' Tesla Models

I am NOT a Fan

Great things happen when you push the envelope. 

Mediocrity sets in when you stay in your comfort zone.

Tesla just released the new "Diet" Model Y and Model 3, and I am NOT impressed. I think Tesla trying to move downmarket is a big mistake as these stripped down models lose their mojo. It's like John Travolta once said "If you are going to have a chocolate chip cookie, have a chocolate chip cookie." Nobody wants a diet chocolate chip cookie with 3 chocolate chips. 

Ironically, the new cheap seat underwhelming Model Y also lacks Autopilot as a standard feature, which has everybody scratching their heads, as this makes zero sense. I mean this model is completely stripped own and lacks even power folding mirrors, and they even removed the power seat controls from the seat side, and now require the user to go into a screen menu setting to move the seats. 

This new Model Y is super slow doing 0-60MPH in 6.8 seconds, which is horrendously slow for a Tesla, let alone any electric vehicle!?!! This poor performance unfortunately puts the overall acceleration way out of the ideal Goldilocks zone, thus making it more than twice as slow as the Performance Model Y, which does 0-60MPH in only 3.3 seconds, which is impressive!!!

Tesla also removed the standard dual pane windows and replaced them with single pane, and despite keeping the glass roof, strangely covered it with a headliner.

I recently wrote in detail about how stupid the stripped down 2WD CyberTruck was that Tesla released, only to discontinue it almost immediately afterward as nobody purchased them. 

For the record, when Tesla decided to make a stripped down CyberTruck that nobody wanted or purchased, it cost a lot of R&D money to make all the custom changes, like the super goofy new tonneau cover, which ended up being a complete waste of precious time and resources for Tesla.

In my opinion, these stripped down models are just another pathetic cash-grab from Tesla, which is very short sighted. I recall the Porsche 912, which was a 4 cylinder 911, that didn't last long either, and that's for a reason.

With the watered down 2WD CyberTruck, Tesla was like, "Hey, we lowered the price by $10K!!!!" and I was like, "Yeah, but you removed $20K worth of cool features!?!!" 

Same thing here. Tesla lowered the price by $5k, and easily removed $10K worth of features. All I see here is "Cash Grab, Cash Grab, Cash Grab!!!!" and I don't like this cheap strategy. In the early days of Tesla, they would include all these extra features and accessories, like including a charging cable, which they now charge separately for. 

They even used to include a free electric kids Tesla with the purchase of a Model S or Model Y, but not anymore. Now they charge for EVERYTHING, which is fine so long as they are not charging to take away useful features, which is the case with the new stripped down Model Y and Model 3. I did predict immediately that Tesla would discontinue the stripped down 2WD CyberTruck, and I was right, as they did. 

Do I think they are going to discontinue these stripped down new Model Y and Model 3 vehicles? It's hard to say, but I think they will definitely lower the price on them soon. For instance, the new Standard RWD Model Y, now starts at $39,990, and I would not be surprised within 4 months from its introduction (in Q1 of 2026) the price gets dropped down $10K to $29,990.

On a positive note, I will say I like the aesthetic of the new Model Y better which lacks the CyberTruck-like lightbar. I think removing the lightbar gives it a cleaner, more minimalist look and vibe. On a negative note, cloth seats, YUUUUUUUUCK!!!! In my opinion, as a designer, I think Tesla should focus its energy on adding valuable features, not taking them away. Tesla is great at making cars that surprise and delight and inspire and push the envelope. Vehicles that people aspire to own. Not uninspiring mediocre crap cars. 

If I had to sum up these new models in one word, I would say "Booooooooring!?!!" Tesla should only seek to surprise and delight, not to deliver ultra boring and uninspiring vehicles that are stripped down. These new models offer features nobody is asking for or wants. Tesla should focus all of its energy on innovating and raising the bar, not on going backwards, by seriously dumbing down their vehicles.

2025 IIHS Tesla Cybertruck Updated Crash Test Video

 

2025 IIHS Tesla Cybertruck 

Updated Crash Test Video

 

2028 CyberTruck Design Reference

I recently wrote an article named "When Will Tesla Launch CyberVAN/CyberSUV: A vehicle that can resurrect the Cyber Platform." This article delineated and showcased a new CyberSUV/VAN which I believe Tesla is likely to unveil soon.

That article really made me think about what the next step will likely be after that vehicle is launched, and a few days later I wrote a follow-up story named: "Thoughts On The Future of Autonomous Vehicles: The Shape of Things to Come: Part 2: 2030 Predictions, CyberVAN Autonomous Tesla Transport Design Concept by Jake Ehrlich." I am extremely proud of that article as I genuinely believe it offers an amazing modular design opportunity for Tesla, which I think could be extremely successful, as far as an ultimate CyberVAN design. This made me think, "If Tesla comes out with a completely autonomous VAN, wouldn't it make sense to do the same think by replacing the current CyberTruck model with one that also lacks a steering wheel, as well as forward facing front seats? This article shows my idea of what I believe such a vehicle will look like.

This 2028 CyberTruck is designed to overcome all the challenges and limitations of the original CyberTruck, so for instance it has a pass through bed gate, that can access the cabin. There is no tonneau cover to block the rear view camera. This is a Truck designed to behave and perform 100% as a truck. Even though the original CyberTruck has a 4x6 bed, the bed on this model could be extended inward to accommodate 4x8 panels with the tailgate closed.

I would argue the current CyberTruck is far more of a hybrid SUV/Truck, than an actual truck, and this new model is designed to be just a truck. My design kind of reminds me of a vintage Chevrolet El Camino.

Since it has a normal bed, it's easy to access all around, unlike the CyberTruck, and in with the last image above it features an optional Camper Shell. My design reference above is identical in height, length and width to the Current CyberTruck.

My personal preference would be my CyberVAN design for certain, but I think there is and will continue to be a large addressable market for customers who LOVE trucks with flatbeds in the back, and that is what this version would be for. Ironically, it could share far more that 90% of it's components with the CyberVAN, but just be a different option…

If you look closely, this version of the CyberTruck I designed only has one door, which is pretty large and wide, which seems to add to its simplicity. I think the design looks so cool, and I like the simplicity of the single door so much, I could see how such a design profile might be better than my original CyberVAN design, which had two doors on each side. In other words, since the silhouette is so similar, I could see my original CyberVAN having the single door and overall silhouette of this vehicle, which looks so cool, practical and simple.

Tesla Cancels RWD CyberTuck

 

Tesla Finally Cancels RWD CyberTuck

Good Riddance, To Bad Rubbish

Tesla cancelled the Rear Wheel Drive CyberTruck, and I say, good riddance, to bad rubbish!!! Coming out with such a joke of a vehicle was probably Tesla's greatest blunder to date, right up there with the Fabergé egg Falcon Wing Doors on the Model X. If you are a reader of Jake's Tesla World, you may already be familiar with my review of the specs for the 2WD CyberTruck, I published back in April named "My Take on the New Rear Wheel Drive CyberTruck: A HUGE & PATHETIC Step Backward." In that detailed article I delineated in great detail, how and why Tesla poured gasoline all over the CyberTruck fire by introducing such a pathetically stripped down model.

I want to set the record straight. I am the president of the Tesla Fan Club. I believe Teslas are the best cars ever made, and I strongly believe the CyberTruck is by far and away the best designed vehicle ever brought to market. That beings said, Tesla made many blunderous mistakes with the launch of the CyberTruck. First and foremost, they overpromised and underdelivered. Why? For what reason??? They got greedy and overconfident, and instead of investing ahead of the curve, they ended up driving it into the ground. 

Tesla could have EASILY delivered on every Cybertruck promise—price, range, everything. With over a million preorders, sticking to the original $39,900-$69,900 prices could’ve led to 300,000+ sales instead of just 46,000. At an average of $54,000 per truck, that’s $16 billion in revenue, not the $4 billion from selling fewer at $86,000 each. That’s $12 billion missed! They’d own the EV truck market, keep customers thrilled, and maintain huge demand, making up for any short-term profit hit with massive long-term success.

That's the bad news, and so much for looking in the rear-view mirror. The great news is I am certain Tesla can recover from these EPIC blunders, and here is how:

It's Time to Simplify The CyberTruck

First, discontinue the CyberBeast, which is unnecessary and accounts for less than 10% of sales and production. The front motor in the CyberBeast is always engaged, causing excessive noise and vibration. In contrast, the AWD CyberTuck has the rear motor always engaged, resulting in significantly reduced noise.

Similar to the Plaid Model S and X, the CyberBeast is a cash grab that prioritizes symbolism over substance—appealing to those with more dollars than sense. Tesla should focus on delivering great value and delight, not on flashy, impractical performance that no one truly needs or uses. It’s ironic these overpriced 'Plaid' and 'Beast' models perform best when using Full Self-Driving (FSD), which actually slows them down significantly. 

Tesla should make one vehicle named the CyberTruck. Focus on optimizing every aspect of its performance, luxury, and range. In other words, I am certain Tesla can get the 0-60 MPH down to 3.5 seconds in the AWD, and I am certain they can boost the range to 500 miles—easily. 

This is what people want—not a stripped-down 'Where's the beef' CyberMut with cloth seats, or an external battery in the bed that destroys 1/3 of the bed capacity!?!!

Tesla should work on upgrading the interior of the CyberTruck by fixing the ultra-HORRIBLE rearview mirror system and enhancing the interior by adding massage seats. So long as the CyberTruck is sold with a steering wheel, add back the turning indicator stalk and add a screen in front of the steering wheel like the current S and X have.

Also, if you have watched the evolution of all Tesla models on Tesla.com in relation to vehicle ordering options, you will notice they have kept simplifying and limiting options, and discontinuing the Plaid models and Beast would be a natural extension of this logic...Simplify, Simplify, Simplify...

No Such Thing as Free Supercharging 

Here is what Elon and Tesla don't get: The reason why people want a CyberTruck is because they want the best truck ever made, and I believe they are willing to pay for it. As an example, if Tesla offered a 500-mile range CyberTruck with a turning stalk and a screen above the steering wheel, along with massage seats, I would gladly pay $100K for it. What I don't want is to have a 'Luxe' package crammed down my throat, that costs an extra $15K, that includes FSD prepaid for 6.5 years, along with 'Free' Supercharging I will never use. 

I don't know what the actual metrics are for 'free' supercharging utilization, but I am certain it has long been a profit center for Tesla. In other words, on the multiple Tesla models I have owned, that came with 'free' supercharging, I probably used less than $1000 worth of electricity, as I typically charge at home, as do the vast majority of customers. Tesla knows this, but apparently thinks we are stupid. Also, the 'Free' Supercharging is only extended to the original owner, and is not included when the car is resold, so if you buy a Tesla today with 'free' lifetime supercharging, you essentially pay $5k for it, but if you sell or trade in the car a year or two later, that $5K you paid disappears. 

I've said it before, and I will say it again, I believe the CyberTruck is the best car ever made in the world to date, but the real question, is it the best version of itself, and the answer is no. Tesla ran the ball down to the 2-yard line and stopped, which was a terrible mistake. My advice to Tesla is to make the CyberTruck the absolute best version it can be of itself and leave it at that.

If you want to learn much more about my thoughts on the future of Tesla and the Cyber Platform, just continue on and check out the next three stories that I published before this one.

CyberEvolution From CyberTruck to CyberVAN

 CyberEvolution

From CyberTruck to CyberVAN 

Design Concept by JAKE EHRLICH

I have been on a roll with imagineering the future of Tesla's Cyber Platform, and it dawned on me I should create a simple graphic that shows how I believe the form factor will/should evolve from CyberTruck in 2024 up through the CyberVAN which I believe Tesla will soon launch, and then two years further into my design reference for a CyberVAN sans steering wheel and front facing front seats, and here it is:

On the CyberTruck I took the liberty of adding my JAKEe rear sail panel, which I think makes the CyberTruck look a million times better. I came up with the idea to do that and published it 6 years ago, and ever since then have thought adding that element makes the CyberTruck look complete.

Another reason I was compelled to complete this graphic, beside it looking really cool, is it shows that both my 2026 and 2028 CyberVAN concept designs are profoundly identical in height, length, width and wheelbase to the current CyberTruck, and thus I assume would cost about the same amount to manufacture.

Back in 2022 Elon Musk Tweeted "Maybe Tesla should make a highly configurable RoboVan for people and cargo?" Musk also hinted that a RoboVan would be bigger than a Model X when he attended a Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley confab, and on an earnings call he said "Tesla is definitely going to make an electric van at some point."

On October 10, 2024 Tesla showed off their Robovan concept at an event named "We Robot", which is super cool and designed to carry up to 20 passengers as seen below. I think the Tesla Robovan is awesome, but much larger than most families would want, need or require. Also, since my CyberVAN is identical to a CyberTruck in length, width, height and wheelbase, it could be parked in a standard garage, where the RoboVAN definitely could NOT be parked in a standard size home garage. I created the graphic below which shows the scale difference in between my Tesla CyberVAN concept (front), and Tesla's RoboVAN (rear).

Update: September 27, 2025: I recently started noticing these new FedEx electric delivery vans all over the place, an could not help but notice the silhouette is very similar to the RoboVAN pictured above.

I couldn't resist the temptation to see what my CyberVan would look like beside the FedEx Electric Delivery can, so I created this graphic. By the way, I think the new FedEx deliver van looks AMAZING!!!!!

Future Tesla Design Reference CyberVAN by JAKE EHRLICH

Thoughts On The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

The Shape of Things to Come 

Part 2: 2030 Predictions

CyberVAN

Autonomous Tesla Transport 

Design Concept by JAKE EHRLICH

Five years ago, Back in 2020, here on TeslaMagazine.org, I wrote an article titled "Thoughts On The Future of Autonomous Vehicles: The Shape of Things To Come", where I shared my outlook on where things would go over the next 10 years. This is an updated version of that story, which continues exploring down that same road. Several days ago I published a fascinating story named "When Will Tesla Launch CyberVAN/CyberSUV? A vehicle that can resurrect the Cyber Platform" and I must admit it completely freaked me out, in a remarkably positive way!!! This is a follow up story that takes things much further—arguably to the logical inevitable final perfect design state. 

CyberVAN concept pictured above is identical in height, length, and

 width to the current CyberTruck but has infinitely more cargo space

 as there are is no steering wheel or forward facing front seats.

In my recent article on the Tesla CyberVAN, toward the end, I made a bold declarative statement saying within about 5 years from now, once autonomy is achieved, this memorable event will cause the vehicle form factor the world has lived with for the past 125 years to become largely obsolete. So much so, I believe 100 years from now, the seminal dividing line in automobile history will be referred to as the 2030 demarcation line between people driven vehicles/ and autonomous vehicles. This will have profound implications for our society in many ways.

Specifically, front facing, front row seats, and steering wheels will disappear. In other words, 5-10 years from today, I believe no traditional vehicles with steering wheels will be made any more in the same way the horse and buggy gave way to the automobile in the earlier decades of the twentieth century". It's a fact that by 1917: In one decade (1907–1917), automobiles replaced horses and buggies as the standard U.S. transport, with registrations surging from 140,300 to nearly 5 million cars and 400,000 trucks.

I decided to take the current Tesla CyberTruck design language, and modify it to turn it from a Cybertruck to a CyberVAN, but instead of doing it the way I did in my previous story, I decided to turn it into a form factor that provides the ultimate autonomous people mover, that is kind of like a modern limousine which looks kind of like a pod on wheels. Keep in mind, all my Tesla concept images in this story are identical in size to the current CyberTruck, in length, width, height, and wheelbase. The only thing that changes is the overall form factor, which gets transformed from a truck to a van.

The image above shows my CyberVAN Autonomous vehicle concept with the two sliding doors closed, and the image below shows it with its two door in the open position. This form factor could easily transport a family of four, anywhere, with tons of extra storage space in the front and rear of the vehicle as illustrated below.

CyberVAN concept pictured above with two powered sliding side doors in the open position.

The image below shows my CyberVAN with a high volume roof rack storage system that could hold a ton of items like suitcases, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc. Keep in mind this vehicle would be equipped with wireless charging, so a family could board this vehicle in Los Angeles in the evening, and it could drive them straight to the Grand Canyon, and while the family sleeps in the very comfortable and luxurious zero gravity air cooled and heated seats, could stop and wirelessly charge itself at Tesla Supercharging stations, so they could go to sleep in Los Angeles and wake up the next morning at their next destination, like San Francisco, or The Grand Canyon.

CyberVAN concept pictured above shown with optional roof storage rack system that can hold luggage, or a tent.

Not only could you have a tent on top of the CyberVAN, (not shown), but you could sleep on a full size mattress INSIDE the CyberVAN as seen below. Users can’t camp in the CyberTruck as the truck bed is too small, and most importantly, the truck bed is not heated or cooled like the cabin of every other Tesla. With the CyberVAN, not only would you have HVAC access to fresh, warm, or cool filtered air, but you could fit a much longer mattress in the back for sleeping. Not to mention, sleeping in a CyberVAN in public places would be much safer and quieter than sleeping in a tent on top of a CyberTruck. Also, the owners would not have to climb up a ladder to reach the tent on top of a CyberTruck. 

CyberVAN shown with rear bed with passenger area up front

Optimized Space Utilization

The CyberTruck is limited to 5 passengers, but the CyberVAN could comfortably seat up to 10 adults. The rear seats in the CyberTruck are fixed and cannot recline at all, so for long rides, since they are fixed in a completely upright position, they can get uncomfortable. A CyberVAN could easily allow all seats to recline. There are potentially so many ways this vehicle could be used and configured to completely optimized space utilization. For instance the large roof could be used as an observation deck with foldable portable chairs for watching anything from a Space X launch, to a sunset, to a soccer game. I haven't shown the vehicle with a tent on top, but as you can imagine, it could easily fit a very large tent on top.

CyberVAN shown with modular roof rack being used as an observation deck

The next image below shows an alternative layout that could contain two extra sets of 3 seats each, in the front and back of the vehicle. This would allow my CyberVan concept to comfortably seat 10 people, and with the optional roof storage system pictured below, could hold and transport all their luggage. This vehicle could contain every modern convenience like a built in fridge, and starlink to provide super fast satellite internet. The vehicle could easily have a 1000 mile range, and charge very quickly. Once again, this vehicle is all about optimizing space utilization in the most modular ways possible.

CyberVAN autonomous concept pictured above can comfortably and easily 

transport up to 10 adults, and notice roof rack storage can 

hold their luggage for vacations and long road trips.

The next image below shows two Tesla Optimus Robots standing next to the CyberVAN, and the interesting thing is they could sit in the rear seat behind the mother and father pictured below when the vehicle is driving. In other words, a family 2-7 members could fit in the vehicle, and bring along two or three Optimus Robots on a long vacation or road trip, and it would even be possible to have 10 humans riding in the CyberVAN with two Optimus Robots stored away in the roof rack storage system. This would allow a large family to go on vacation, and bring their robots with them.

CyberVAN concept pictured above with Tesla Optimus Robots that can sit in

 rear seats, or even stow away in cargo roof rack cargo storage system (not shown).

The image below Shows my CyberVAN concept which has RGB LED panels built in to the front and rear panels of the vehicles (not shown) as well as on the side doors in the middle as illustrated below. These contextually sensitive screens could display all kinds of things, including charge state as a percentage at a supercharger, as well as all kinds of other information, including a "HAZZARD" message, when the vehicle has it's hazard lights blinking. This would be potentially invaluable for Tesla CyberVAN vehicles that have opted into the Robotaxi network, which would make them infinitely easier to spot when customers are looking for them in a parking lot, or in line at an airport. These screens could be programmed to display just about anything.

CyberVAN concept has invisibly integrated RGB LED screens built into front, rear and

 side panels that can brilliantly communicate contextual and feedback messages.

In my recently published article titled "When Will Tesla Launch CyberVAN/CyberSUV: A vehicle that can resurrect the Cyber Platform" I argued that a CyberVAN could easily hold 4 x 8 sheets of plywood with the rear tailgate closed, unlike a CyberTruck, as pictured below.

A CyberTruck ONLY has a 4 x 6 foot bed, which can hold sheets of plywood, but is far from ideal. 

As an example, if it rains, that could damage the exposed plywood sheets.

This vehicle could have seats that fold down flat, like in a Tesla Model YL, that would easily allow it to transport 4 x 8 sheets of plywood or sheetrock. Not that it would be typically used for such, but could do so. As we see with my illustration below, a CyberVAN could hold infinitely more 4 x 8 plywood sheets, not only inside the vehicle, but also on top. This vehicle would also be the ultimate work vehicle for companies like Tesla's mobile service center technicians and work trucks.

Semitransparent Image shows CyberVAN with tremendous cargo capacity, 

including large items like 4 x 8 sheets of plywood, lumber of sheetrock with tailgate closed safely.

Ultimate Delivery VAN

The design of my CyberVAN is so easily customizable due to its highly modular nature. For instance if you want to add more cargo space on top of the CyberVAN you could do see as seen below in the example that shows a USPS mail delivery truck, with two Tesla Optimus robots actually delivering the packages and mail. Just like the CyberTruck, the CyberVAN lends itself beautifully to being wrapped as we see with the example below.

The uses for a CyberVAN with Tesla Optimus robots is endless. This could be the ultimate food delivery system with warming ovens inside. Imaging you order food using DoorDash, and a half hour later a Tesla Optiumus robot rings your doorbell, and drops off your fresh cooked food. These vehicles could delver groceries, and just about anything else. Tesla could even start it's own package deliver service to complete with UPS and FEDEX if it wanted to.

Speaking of customizing the roof area, the CyberVAN concept below has a huge built-in long ramp which would allow bikes, or ATVs to be moved up and secured on the roof of the vehicle for transport as pictured below.

Modular Design Approach

One of the great takeaways from this design is that once you get rid of the steering wheel, and pedals, as well as the need for front facing front row seats, it opens up a tremendous amount more space utilization. Also, if Tesla can figure out out a way to put all the seats in the vehicle on rails where they can be easily moved back and forth by the user (as pictured above) it would open up a world of possibilities and options with enhanced modularity. Tesla could even OEM this vehicle to other companies, and let them customize the interior.  Also, the construction of this vehicle would radically compliment the unbox feature, as all interior seating components could be added after the production process.

I am certain this is the future of vehicle transport that will become reality in the not so distant future, and if given the opportunity, I would LOVE to design these vehicles with Tesla, as I am certain I could do an amazing job!!!! Elon, if you read this, I am ready to perfectly design and bring this puppy to life!!!!

ONE MORE THANG

I was contemplating an intriguing concept. Years ago, I recall a Tesla enthusiast expressing his frustration. He reached out to Elon Musk, stating, “I’m a huge Tesla fan, but we have a large family of seven children, and there’s simply no way we can all fit in a Model X.” He expressed his hope that Tesla would soon introduce a larger SUV that could accommodate a significantly larger number of passengers. This thought sparked my curiosity. Imagine if my autonomous Tesla CyberVAN concept became a reality? 

Two CyberVANs show driving and traveling in lockstep unison to

 significantly increase range, and offer a second vehicle on long road trips.

Most American families typically own two vehicles. What if a family with seven children also had my CyberVAN vehicle? Not only could they all fit comfortably in a single vehicle, but if both parents each owned and drove a CyberVAN model, they could easily embark on long or short trips out for dinner by combining two of these vehicles. This arrangement would allow the younger children to drive alongside their parents in the lead vehicle, while the older children could sit in the rear vehicle. 

Since these vehicles are fully autonomous, they could be programmed to drive in perfect lockstep synchronization, as illustrated above. This would significantly reduce energy consumption, as the rear vehicle would constantly benefit from the aerodynamic drag coefficient advantages including a lack of rolling resistance for the rear vehicle. On a long trip, the vehicles could take turns driving in front as the lead vehicle, and as a result could drive further on the same amount of electricity as just one vehicle could travel by itself.

When families embark on road trip vacations, it’s common for the mother to prefer a specific destination on any given day, while the father might have a different preference. With a CyberVAN vehicle like the one featured in this article, it would be incredibly convenient to accommodate both parents’ wishes, ensuring a harmonious blend of their preferences. Having a local vehicle at their disposal would allow each parent to enjoy their preferred destination.

Imagine if you wanted to optimize a CyberVAN as an ultimate commute vehicle. It could be optimized to be the ultimate home-office man-cave on wheels, that could even drop you off when you reach your destination, then go and park itself, and if for some reason it was not able to fine a good parking space, could just drive around while it waits to pick you up.

Years ago, I was at the Coffee Roastery on Chestnut Street in the San Francisco Marina. I was standing in line, and I heard somebody say "Hey Jake!" It turned out, it was a friend of mine who had recently gotten married and moved from Silicon Valley to Belvedere Island in Marin. He showed me his chauffeur-driven vehicle double-parked out front, disguised as a delivery vehicle, and it freaked me out. He had purchased a large Sprinter cargo van, with no side or rear windows, which looked like a big brown UPS delivery truck, and his driver was up front. He had set up a forward-facing office inside with a full-on desktop workstation, and he would drive back and forth from Marin to Palo Alto every day, in his office on wheels. The CyberVAN would be perfect for this, and it would drive itself.

Steampunk Design

Where did this design idea come from? It came from my imagination, meaning I saw it in my mind‘s eye, identically to the way it’s shown in this article. 

That being said, I kept thinking to myself that the overall shape reminded me of the original hard-core Steampunk, Art-Deco trains from the 1930s as pictured above. Just to be clear, it is JUST A COINCIDENCE that my CyberVAN design looks like it was modeled after the Mercury train, but it was not. 

After I designed my CyberVAN concept as you see it in this article, it got me thinking about how trains work and that’s what inspired me to come up with the idea of one CyberVAN, following another, as pictured above, so a family could bring two cars with them on a road trip vacation, instead of just one.

Once again, after designing the CyberVAN depicted in this article, my mind kept telling me it resembled something else. I realized it was similar to the VW Buses from the past (pictured below) and a modern bus or school bus. The reason I named my design CyberVAN is that it indeed resembles the shape of a VAN. However, I could also envision it being referred to as a CyberPOD, CyberTransport, CyberLimo, or CyberMiniBus.

Speaking of Busses: Where I live, it's common to see public double length articulated/accordion commuter busses driving around all day and night with just one or two passengers, if not empty, which are designed to be able to sit 98 people. 

All over the West Coast, you see these accordion style double-length buses that can seat close to 100 passengers, driving around empty, or with 1 or 2 passengers, which is a complete waste of financial resources for municipalities. Replacing these with CyberVANs, would not only save significant financial resources, but would also take passengers door to door, instead of them having to walk to bus stops.

Purchasing and maintaining these busses with drivers and mechanics and fuel cost municipalities a fortune to purchase and maintain. As a matter of fact, these articulated buses cost approximately $1 Million each. A Commuter version of the CyberVAN could easily cost under $100K, thus a municipality, could buy 10 CyberVANs. Most importantly, the 10 CyberVANs could also transport 10 passengers each, thus offering the exact same capacity, but 10 times the flexibility.

It strikes me that any municipality would be way better off replacing those huge inefficient busses with CyberVan's. Not to mention, CyberVAN's could drive door to door instead of require people to have to travel to bus stops. Same thing with school busses, which still typically feature loud diesel engines, that are super loud and highly toxic. You get the idea...

This article is part of my series on the Future of Autonomous Vehicles, and since I have't updated my story from 5 years ago, I thought now would be a good time to do so.

Also, back in 2021 I published an article named "Tesla Cyber Vehicle Family, Design Concept by Jake Ehrlich", which was my first attempt at designing future Tesla vehicles.