Tesla’s electric ATV to come as option for Cybertruck pickup, says Elon Musk

Joey Klender

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Posted on November 22, 2019

Tesla CEO Elon Musk shed some light on the company’s surprise all-electric ATV last night, stating that it would be available as an option for initial buyers of the recently-unveiled and polarizing Cybertruck.

Following the unveiling of the spectacularly unique Tesla Cybertruck on November 21 at the SpaceX rocket facility near Los Angeles, California, Musk revealed the company had designed an ATV that seemed to complement the new pickup. Details regarding the ATV are slim at the present time as the focus remains on the futuristic truck, which will be available in three different battery capacities that give the vehicle a range of 250+, 300+, and 500+ miles.

However, it is now known that the ATV will only be available for buyers of the Cybertruck, at least initially.

The ATV will be able to charge from the bed of the truck, an area that Tesla is referring to as the “vault”. During last night’s event, the rider of the ATV displayed the ease of access the four-wheeler had to the Cybertruck’s vault, easily maneuvering it onto the vehicle and plugging it in for charging.

While general and performance specifications are currently unknown, we can assume it will be Tesla’s goal to make the ATV competitive with some of the highest-performing off-road vehicles offered on the market, like the top-rated Can-Am Renegade X mr 1000R that starts at $15,149 . Tesla’s reputation of creating vehicles that outperform some of the most notable sports cars in the world has become a normal occurrence.

Tesla is presumably going after the outdoor market with the release of both the Cybertruck and its companion ATV. While the Cybertruck is a high-performance vehicle that will rival many of the world’s fastest sports cars in acceleration while rivaling pickup champs like the Ford F-150 in utility, Tesla’s pairing of a truck with an ATV seems to match the ideology that they are gearing up for the release other vehicles that are aimed at outdoor activities.

One example of this would be the upcoming Rivian R1T, a pickup truck designed for performance both off-road and not. As of now, the ATV remains a mystery for those interested, but if you want to get your hands on one, you will have to order Tesla’s newest vehicle, at least for the time being.

Tesla’s electric ATV to come as option for Cybertruck pickup, says Elon Musk

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Tesla patent reveals Semi truck seat suspension in the works for added safety

Joey Klender

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Posted on November 21, 2019

Tesla has submitted a patent that would improve its Semi-truck’s centered seat design by utilizing a suspension system on the architecture of the driver’s seat to add additional safety to the operator of the vehicle.

The patent notes that scissor-lift designs are commonly used in large vehicle seats, like in a semi-truck. This design includes pivoting legs that cross each other, allowing seats to be adjustable. However, this architecture has some drawbacks, especially when an accident occurs. In the event of a collision, the “all belts to seat” (ABTS) development “requires the frame of the seat to withstand the expected loads of the occupant and distribute them to the vehicle body. However, the scissor-leg designs were not originally intended for ABTS solutions and are not efficient at distributing the loads,” the patent states. The intention is to make the seat safer and more comfortable, an idea that could save drivers of the Semi in the long run.

“For a driver, adjusting the height of the seat can be important in ensuring a safe driving position. For a passenger, height adjustment can provide increased comfort. Truck seats with scissor-lift designs can be raised or lowered using an airbag positioned underneath the seat, with the scissor legs being more, or less, extended based on the state of inflation.”

Tesla’s proposed suspension seat design. (Credit: U.S. Patent Office)

Tesla’s suspension seat at lowest setting. (Credit: U.S. Patent Office)

Tesla’s suspension seat at highest setting. (Credit: U.S. Patent Office)

Tesla’s seat suspension system. (Credit: U.S. Patent Office)

Tesla’s proposed suspension seat design. (Credit: U.S. Patent Office)

Safety and comfort are of the utmost importance to truck drivers, as many of them are traveling across the country in the Semi they are operating. Many drivers work at a rate of pay that depends on the number of miles they travel in a given shift. This can attribute to long periods of time behind the wheel, making it important for the driver to feel comfortable and safe at all times. According to the Federal Highway Administration, truck drivers can travel between 45,000 and 100,000 miles a year. This makes it pertinent for truck-makers to design vehicles that are comfortable enough to allow extended driving sessions.

The design Tesla is proposing would increase safety in the event of a crash, while also benefiting drivers of different heights. When adjusting the height of the seat, the driver is inflating or deflating an airbag to either raise or lower their positioning. Depending on the inflation of this airbag, the spring force can change, and this can cause differing results in the event of an accident.

“Many seats feature suspension for the comfort of the occupant. In truck seats with a scissor-lift design, the airbag also serves as a spring to provide suspension, and a damper can be added to absorb shock. However, because the airbag is also used to control the seat height, ride characteristics are affected by the height adjustment,” Tesla states in the patent’s background.

Tesla plans to include this suspension system by having a “multi-post architecture” that would couple sleeves to sets of lift links. They also plan to modify the height adjustment system that would coincide with the seat’s suspension.

“The height adjustment system comprises a four-bar linkage. The height adjustment system is positioned on top of the suspension system. The vehicle seat further includes a plate riding on the suspension system, the sleeves are coupled to the plate, and respective first ends of the pairs of lift links are pivotally coupled to the plate. The multi-post architecture includes posts coupled to a plate configured for fore/aft adjustment on a track,” Tesla wrote.

Overall, Tesla seems to be designing its Semi to be the safest tractor-trailer on the road, hands down. Safety is a priority for the company to begin with, but the development of new methods to create a safer driving experience stands strong and firm with concepts outlined in by the company in these recent patent applications.

The Semi has been ordered by multiple companies that are looking for a more environmentally-friendly logistics option. It will begin a limited production sometime in 2020.

The full text of Tesla’s suspension seat design could be accessed here.

Tesla patent reveals Semi truck seat suspension in the works for added safety

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Tesla and EV proponents call for boycott of GM, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler in new Change.org petition

Joey Klender

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Posted on November 20, 2019

A group of Tesla owners and electric vehicle proponents have initiated a new Change.org petition in hopes to boycott legacy automakers that have opposed a new California measure to enact stricter emission standards by automakers.

Following Teslarati’s coverage of California’s choice to stop supporting these automakers, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed surprise with Toyota’s decision to not abide by California’s new laws. “Even Toyota, who made the Prius. That is sad,” he said, further suggesting that community members should contact automakers to voice concerns.

What followed was a Change.org petition that calls for a ban on automakers that refuse to support regulations.

“Cars and trucks that burn gasoline and diesel spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. They also emit nitrous oxide and fine particulate matter — pollutants associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease. In other words, the emissions from these vehicles not only contribute to global heating, they make us all sick and can lead to premature death. These companies refuse to support regulations that would lower all forms of pollution from their products. General Motors is the worst offender. It accepted hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government 10 years ago and promised to support stricter emission rules,” the petition states.

The petition began in November and targets automakers who have chosen to not abide by the state’s rules regarding vehicle emissions. Once the petition reaches its goal of 1,000 signatures, it will be sent to General Motors and its CEO Mary Barra, Toyota, Chrysler, and Fiat Chrysler. The overall objective of the petition is to bring to light the issue of global climate change as a result of vehicle emissions.

California’s decision to stop buying gas-powered sedans was big to begin with, but their decision to completely stop supporting automakers who are not on board with this decision is arguably just as notable. The choice will affect GM’s Chevrolet the most, as California bought around $27 million worth of vehicles from them in 2018.

The support of the electric vehicle community to this issue shows the passion and fervor of the beliefs of environmentally-conscious drivers. While California has made the initial steps to try and convince these large automakers to backtrack and rethink their choices, the choice can ultimately come down to support from the regular, everyday consumer of their vehicles.

You can sign the petition at Change.org here.

Tesla and EV proponents call for boycott of GM, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler in new Change.org petition

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