Electric cars are taking over the new car consumer market. On Nov. 21, 2019, Elon Musk unveiled the new Tesla Cybertruck. This new Tesla model will be the world’s first fully electric pickup truck.
Musk unveiled the new futuristic Cybertruck at a Tesla event and teased many of its specs. It will come in three different variations of 250, 300, and 500 miles of range on a single charge, respectively. The truck is built to last, with Musk claiming that it would come with bulletproof glass. He and the designer of Tesla, Franz von Holzhausen, put the truck to the test in front of a live audience. Holzhausen threw a metal ball at the glass window and to their surprise, the glass shattered. The truck is also made of “ultrahard stainless steel,” Musk said. Again, Holzhausen tested it with a sledgehammer, this time the test succeeded and left no dents in the Cybertruck’s frame.
A day after the event, Tesla stock plummeted due to the failed window testing. But this did not stop consumers from preordering the vehicle. Elon tweeted that one hundred and forty-six thousand pre orders had already been placed on the Cybertruck. Many people still took to social media to express their feelings about the new vehicle, many saying the design looked like something they drew in elementary school.
Junior Olivia McNorton said,” I thought it was neat, but I did not give it too much thought because I expect it to be pricey. Electric cars are the future of transportation so long as they become the standard of the majority and not a luxury for the rich minority.” Musk priced the starting single motor model at $39,900, with the self-driving add-on feature priced at $7000 for each model. Despite its looks, students still like the idea of electric cars due to being able to save money on gas while also being eco-friendly. McNorton says, “As a commuter, I wouldn’t be causing as much pollution on my daily commutes, and since electricity is cheaper than gasoline, I wouldn’t be spending as much on my car every week.”
Senior Christian Gilbert shared, “I like electric vehicles because many of the ones on the market offer top of the line quality in terms of performance and amenities.” Many electric cars such as the BMW i8, Tesla Model X, and Volkswagen e-Golf strive to give consumers a fun commute while being eco-friendly with nice speeds and interiors.
Despite all these preorders, the Tesla Cybertruck is not set to be shipped until late 2020 or early 2021.