Wire Eating Rats

[Redstrom]

Big problem in rural areas are rats that chew through automotive wiring harnesses which can cause thousands of dollars in repairs. I've already seen a Youtube video where a Tesla 3's electrical system was destroyed by a rat. The new Cybertruck is going to be used by people that live in rural areas and farm land. I really hope there's some thought that goes into this issue being that the Cybertruck is all electric

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[Cyber_Dav]

Big problem in rural areas are rats that chew through automotive wiring harnesses which can cause thousands of dollars in repairs. I've already seen a Youtube video where a Tesla 3's electrical system was destroyed by a rat. The new Cybertruck is going to be used by people that live in rural areas and farm land. I really hope there's some thought that goes into this issue being that the Cybertruck is all electric

Just my opinion (out here where mice chew wires) is that it won't be nearly the issue it is with ICE vehicles. Mice/rats like to make nests in the warm protected engine compartment. And that is mostly where the wires are they chew on.

No engine compartment on a Tesla.

 

[moonrover]

Both good points. I still think this deserves a little consideration from Tesla.

 

[Saskateam]

I agree rats can be a problem for any vehicle. What do the legacy auto makers do about the rat issues? The skateboard platform is already better than an ICE vehicle for keeping the rodents out, not perfect though. I am not sure about the exoskeleton for keeping them out and if they do get into it how hard will it be to get them out? When we charge the battery there is heat generation, when we drive we create heat and it will take time to dissipate. This is what attracts rodents to vehicles, as well as being out of the elements and protection from predators. I hope the CT is very tightly built, maybe have spray in foam or other insulation in the exoskeleton for noise dampening and keep the rodents out. If you have rat problems, prevention and control is really important for many reasons.

 

[Jose mario]

Big problem in rural areas are rats that chew through automotive wiring harnesses which can cause thousands of dollars in repairs. I've already seen a Youtube video where a Tesla 3's electrical system was destroyed by a rat. The new Cybertruck is going to be used by people that live in rural areas and farm land. I really hope there's some thought that goes into this issue being that the Cybertruck is all electric

I’m sure there will be a cybercat including

 

[Dids]

Hmmm. Cyber kitty. Kriterbitch license plate starting to make sense now.

 

[BillyGee]

I've seen richrebuilds work on Teslas with rodent damage and it seems to focus more on filter housings. He had a model X with a completely munched HEPA filter since there was a nest inside of it.

 

[Quicksilver]

The best rodent control is a ball bearing mousetrap (Tomcat).

 

[ReddykwRun]

(modify to the EV as necessary)

Poison, sticky trap, remove food sources, block entrances in combination with the tips antique car buffs swear by the following:

Use Repellent Fragrances and Odors
Mice, rats, squirrels, and similar species have a well-developed sense of smell. They can be repelled by the following strong odors.

• Irish Spring Soap: Cut the soap into cubes, drill holes into each cube, and wrap a wire through and around the soap. Then, tie them under the hood in locations where it doesn't get hot. Or just rub the soap bar around on various surfaces. This soap is also often used to repel deer.
• 
  
• Peppermint oil: This oil works as a mouse repellent when it's applied to cotton balls and appropriately fixed or wired in place, but you must remember to reapply the oil every few days. Peppermint oil has a strong scent, and its fragrance is possibly repugnant to rodents, but more pleasant to humans than other options.
• 
  
• Laundry Dryer Sheets: Campers and hikers occasionally use these sheets as a type of mosquito repellent. It has been said that putting them under the car's hood or tying them in certain places in the vehicle can make mice vacate the premises. They are also very easy to purchase and acquire. Dryer sheets must be regularly replaced.
• 
  
• Pine-Sol: Some people recommend spraying pine-sol into the car's engine compartment to repel mice. Try to not to get it on the batteries. Spraying the area around the windshield wipers should send a message to invading rodents. Confirm that pine-sol is safe to use before spraying it onto certain parts of your car. Alternatively, "Stop the Rodent" or "Critter Ridder" products should be safe to use everywhere. Check each product's directions before you use them.
• 
  
• Brillo steel wool scrubbing pads: These pads may contain soap residue which can act as a good rodent deterrent.
• 
  
• Cayenne pepper: This type of pepper is occasionally used in some commercial spray products. Sprinkling it around the vehicle's tires might help deter rodents.

 

[Dids]

The best rodent control is a ball bearing mousetrap (Tomcat).

That cat looks like it eats rats for breakfast.

 

[Quicksilver]

"That cat looks like it eats rats for breakfast. " He's a rescue Bengal........even though he's been neutered he is a rat killing machine. Last winter when the mice found a way into the kitchen he nailed two in one day. He don't eat them but he'll bring them to you for approval.

 

[svanderlaan]

Big problem in rural areas are rats that chew through automotive wiring harnesses which can cause thousands of dollars in repairs. I've already seen a Youtube video where a Tesla 3's electrical system was destroyed by a rat. The new Cybertruck is going to be used by people that live in rural areas and farm land. I really hope there's some thought that goes into this issue being that the Cybertruck is all electric

Sentry mode can detect and prevent rats with a small plug in rat warning system.

 

[carpedatum]

It does seem reasonable that Cybertruck might leverage Model Y's approach to minimizing wiring.

https://electrek.co/2019/07/22/tesla-revolutionary-wiring-architecture-robots-model-y/

or perhaps something even more advanced. Looking at the patent drawings it sorta looks like there's very little of what we might call traditional wire involved. Not much for a mouse to chew on, though maybe a big rat could make a dent.

 

[hridge2020]

Electric wiring fences and rat traps...

 

[Svenssons]

My Model X came just back from Service Center after a rat attack... These rats liked the coolant in the car.