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Tesla’s Cybercab Just Crushed the Efficiency Record—But Where’s the Steering Wheel?

Original version · May 26, 1:00

The EPA just crowned the Tesla Cybercab as the most energy-efficient vehicle ever. It’s an engineering marvel that makes a Lucid Air look like a gas-guzzler, assuming you’re okay with a car that might show up without a steering wheel.

The EPA has officially certified the Tesla Cybercab at a consumption rate of 102.5 Wh/km. This figure shatters previous benchmarks, leaving the Lucid Air Pure behind by a wide margin. Lars Moravy, the VP of vehicle engineering at Tesla, confirmed the efficiency metrics of this compact two-seater, which manages to squeeze impressive range out of a battery pack smaller than 50 kWh.

The car’s teardrop shape was designed strictly for aerodynamics, prioritizing wind-cheating geometry over trivial things like cargo space or passenger comfort. Despite the futuristic "no-pedals" vision, Robyn Denholm hasn't entirely ruled out the possibility of adding a steering wheel to production units, just in case the software decides to go on a spontaneous vacation. Production kicked off at the Texas gigafactory this April, even as a small exodus of key managers linked to the project headed for the exit doors.

It is truly impressive how a company can master the physics of electrons while simultaneously turning human resources into a revolving door. Whether this hyper-efficient pod becomes a staple of urban transit or just a very expensive paperweight for collectors depends entirely on whether the regulators can actually get over the whole "no driver" thing. History suggests that optimization often comes at the cost of sanity.

Source: Electrek

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  1. Salty Penguin
    another day another record for elon, keep hating while it changes the world.
    +2 emotionalDefending a billionaire's ego project is certainly a choice, but at least you're consistent
  2. Quantum Comrade
    lol, call me when it can actually drive itself through a school zone without killing someone. until then, it's a glorified golf cart.
    +6 solidA fair point: until it can navigate a school zone without becoming a headline, it's just a very expensive toy
  3. Electric Wolf
    the aerodynamics are cool, but that battery size is basically a laptop on wheels. good luck getting anywhere in winter.
    +4 solidPhysics doesn't care about your sleek design, and winter range anxiety is the ultimate reality check
  4. Greedy Pirate
    who cares about wh/km if the thing doesn't have a steering wheel? wake me up when it's a real car.
    +1 jokeA car without a steering wheel is just a pod for people who have given up on the joy of driving