EPA data shows Rivians are more efficient than Cybertrucks, even with larger wheels and batteries
Following several new documents containing details of the Tesla Cybertruck posted to the EPA’s website, we have been able to better understand the efficiencies the truck will achieve. While Cybertruck should perform better than nearly all its current competitors in the electric pickup segment, the slightly smaller Rivian R1T appears to have it beaten – even with larger wheels and battery packs.
After years of waiting and speculating, Tesla finally launched its long-promised Cybertruck pickup last week to mixed reviews. On the one hand, the truck has seen some welcomed improvements since its initial debut – for instance, its tough exterior, 48V low voltage system, and, of course, windows that didn’t shatter this time around.
However, the Cybertruck arrives at a much higher price point than originally promised, with significantly less range, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of some reservation holders who had been waiting years for their opportunity to purchase the truck.
The Cybertruck enters a relatively niche but growing electric pickup segment in the automotive industry, now competing against the likes of the GMC Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, and the Chevy Silverado EV. Another American EV automaker in its own right is Rivian, whose flagship R1T pickup has been on the market longer than all the above and has a demand higher than ever.
Another factor higher than the pickups mentioned above is Rivian’s efficiency, which, on paper, bests Tesla’s Cybertruck, no matter what variant it’s using.
Cybertruck specs show efficiency second to only Rivian
As pointed out by Reddit u/Wugz, a slew of new Cybertruck documents were recently uploaded to the EPA’s website. Have a look here:
As the post points out from the documents above, both of the higher-tier versions of the Cybertruck feature a battery pack of 816 V and 150 Ah. That should translate to approximately 122.4 kWh, which makes sense given that the talking point for the truck’s actual battery capacity has been the slightly embellished 123 kWh. For comparison to the Cybertruck, Rivian’s Max pack and Large pack are 149 kWh and 135 kWh, respectively.
We’ll briefly touch on the Cybertruck’s motors but recommend not focusing too much on it because the EPA and Tesla are saying different things. The certificate summary says the Cybertruck AWD will have two permanent magnet motors, while the initial EPA application says one induction motor and one permanent magnet. For Beast, both documents say three permanent magnets, although Tesla has said it will consist of two rear induction motors and one permanent magnet in the front. So, who’s correct?
Here’s where things get interesting. Based on the coastdown tests conducted by Tesla as part of its EPA certification process, u/Wugz was able to compare the Cybertruck to the Rivian R1T, as well as the other pickups mentioned above. While Cybertruck bests Chevy, Ford, and GMC, it can’t touch Rivian, especially over 70 mph:
Obviously, several factors play into this, and Cybertruck’s initial data could change as time goes on. However, Rivian is a clear leader in pickup efficiency at this current point. A big reason for that is sheer aerodynamics – the Rivian R1T has a Cd of 0.30 compared to 0.335 on the Cybertruck. In this sense, Tesla will never be able to compete with Rivian on aerodynamics, especially since it is simply a larger EV with more frontal surface area. Still, Cybertruck blows away the Lightning and Hummer on Cd (0.44 and 0.50, respectively).
Air resistance is a function of velocity cubed, so while the differences may be mostly negligible at 45mph, as the vehicles grow to 60mph and beyond, the Rivian will take an increasingly bigger lead.
One last tidbit to point out in this data-driven comparison between the Tesla Cybetruck and the Rivian R1T is the range tests themselves and the correction factors used by each automaker. Tesla already has a reputation for using rather high correction factors to publicize better range that its EVs usually offer – and the Cybertruck appears to be Tesla’s most optimistic formula to date. Tesla’s factors are estimated to be 0.82 for the AWD truck to reach a 340-mile range and 0.79 for the Beast to get a range of 320 miles.
If Tesla used the industry norm of .7 that other manufacturers adhere to, the Cybertruck range would be about 290 miles for AWD and the Beast would get 283.5. Those are still impressive distances for the 122.4kWh battery and what owners should expect in real-world range.
For comparison, Rivian’s correction factor, as is most of the rest of the industry, on the R1T is 0.70 – which is much more conservative and likely closer to real-world range estimates. Tesla might be able to deliver more range with its 50kWh range extender pack, although it appears Rivian owns the patent for that.
So, to recap, the Rivian R1T has larger batteries, wheels, and a lower correction factor in estimating range, yet it still delivers better efficiency than Cybertruck (according to Tesla’s recent EPA filings, of course).
There are a lot of variables at play here, so don’t shoot the messenger just yet. Even if Cybertruck does take silver in efficiency behind Rivian, its specs remain some of the best in the segment right now. That includes its size, which bests the Rivian in some key areas. That should still be considered a win, especially with its polarizing design.
And the Cybertruck still wins the polygonal contest, so Tesla fans still have that.
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Tesla is starting to experience some consequences for misleading Full Self Driving customers – at least that’s the finding of one arbitration ruling that has Tesla refunding one customer $10,000 plus legal fees for failing to deliver on their promises. Find out more on today’s legally challenging episode of Quick Charge!
An arbitration “court” found that Tesla misled customers with its Full Self Driving product, and has now been forced to refund at least one person’s $10,000 payment (plus legal fees) for the not-quite autonomous driving software. France, too, is piling on claims of deceptive business practices – but there’s some good news for FSD fans! If you’re still willing to pay for it, Tesla will thrown in 0% financing on a brand new Cybertruck.
Check out the relevant links, below, to learn more.
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Toyota’s new electric SUV is a surprise hit in China. Starting at just $15,000, the Toyota bZ3X is already the top-selling joint venture brand EV.
The $15,000 Toyota bZ3X is the top-selling foreign EV
After launching the bZ3X in March, Toyota’s joint venture, GAC Toyota, claimed that orders were “so popular that the server crashed.” It apparently secured over 10,000 orders in the first hour.
In its second month on the market, the bZ3X was the top-selling foreign-owned vehicle in China, beating out the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 Crozz, Nissan N7, and BMW i3.
According to the latest update, the electric SUV retained the title once again in June. Peng Baolin, General Manager of Sales at GAC-Toyota, revealed on social media that the “delivery volume of Bozhi 3X in June reached 6,030 units.”
GAC Toyota announced on Weibo that cumulative deliveries have now exceeded 20,000 units, setting a new record for the fastest joint venture electric SUV sales to achieve the feat.
The company also claimed that the bZ3X “has the highest sales of new energy vehicles” among joint venture brands right now.
The bZ3X is Toyota’s “first 100,000 yuan-level pure electric SUV.” It’s available in seven different trims, starting at 109,800 yuan, or about $15,000.
Two variants have an added LiDAR, making Toyota the first joint venture brand to offer it in China. The smart driving version starts at 149,800 yuan ($20,500). For 159,800 yuan ($22,000), you can upgrade to the range-topping “610 Max” trim.
Powered by a 67.92 kWh battery, the long-range model is rated with a CLTC range of up to 610 km (379 miles). The base “Air” trim features a 50.03 kWh battery, good for a 430 km (267 miles) range.
The bZ3X measures 4,645 mm in length, 1,885 mm in width, and 1,625 mm in height, or about the size of BYD’s popular Yuan Plus (sold overseas as the Atto 3).
Inside is a significant upgrade from most Toyota models we are used to seeing. It features a tech-focused interior with a 12.3″ infotainment screen and an 8.8″ driver display.
Toyota markets it as an affordable family SUV with “a mobile space that is as comfortable as home.” With all the seats folded, the interior offers nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of space.
It’s also powered by Momenta’s 5.0 smart driving system, offering advanced smart driving features such as Level 2 assisted driving, remote parking, and more.
Electrek’s Take
Although it may not seem like much with Chinese EV makers like Xiaomi securing nearly 300,000 orders for the YU7 SUV in an hour, the bZ3X is selling surprisingly well for a foreign brand vehicle.
Global automakers are struggling to keep pace in China with an influx of new low-cost domestic EVs and an intensifying price war. However, Japanese automakers, including Toyota, have been some of the hardest hit.
During GAC Toyota’s Tech Day event last month, the company announced partnerships with China’s leading tech companies, including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Momenta, as it seeks to regain market share.
Ahead of the event, the company posted on Weibo that “god-level allies are coming to help,” adding “car industry bigwigs are coming.
Through May, Toyota’s sales in China are up 7.7% from the same period last year, with 530,000 vehicles sold. Will Toyota continue gaining traction in the world’s largest EV market? With the bZ5 now rolling out and several new models on the way, Toyota is looking for a comeback.
Source: Sohu, GAC-Toyota
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