Does new "Structural "4680" battery tech make Cybertruck Exoskeleton Superfuluous?

[CyberBC]

I assume that Elon and Company already had the plan to use the 4680 battery tech with the structural design on the drawing board when they designed the Cybertruck. It always seemed to me that the rectangular roof design and sails were more for roll-over protection and "toughness" rather than enough for full frame support. Now that makes sense to me if the battery pack is now structural. Any thoughts out there from the engineer types?

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[Dids]

I assume that Elon and Company already had the plan to use the 4680 battery tech with the structural design on the drawing board when they designed the Cybertruck. It always seemed to me that the rectangular roof design and sails were more for roll-over protection and "toughness" rather than enough for full frame support. Now that makes sense to me if the battery pack is now structural. Any thoughts out there from the engineer types?

I think it was always part of the design. Especially since battery day was already teased at the time of cybertruck unveil. The 4680 must have been a multi year project and why wouldn't tesla design their latest vehicle with the newest tech?

 

[Crissa]

No. The Cybertruck still requires a solid deck to mount your motors and pile your load upon.

The deck of a bridge is 'structural'.

Cybertruck's exoskeleton is more like the unibody design Tesla uses for their other cars.

-Crissa

 

[Sirfun]

I agree with Dids & Crissa. The design of the CT is a complete package that already assumed what Elon talked about at battery day. That complete package is how they are able to get the payload and towing specs.

 

[Crissa]

It's not a bad question, though!

^-^

-Crissa

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

I think the "structural battery" is best viewed like cross member supports like those on the engine compartments of performance cars like the last Viper. It will add strength and, potentially, significant rigidity improvements, but it doesn't replace the rest of the car structure. I can't wait to push it in turns tho.

 

[Ehninger1212]

Either way the body of the cybertruck is going to be extremely strong. The mega casting and structural battery pack will just make it that much more of a tank.

 

[Cybercarlson]

I assume that Elon and Company already had the plan to use the 4680 battery tech

Your are close to 100% right.... but it was not only stiffness through structural pack....

Just look at the asking price. ?
At CT reveal nobody new how they will be able to pull that off, big batterys where too expensive every body thought....
Then eventually came battery day and our eyes where opened.?

 

[firsttruck]

I assume that Elon and Company already had the plan to use the 4680 battery tech with the structural design on the drawing board when they designed the Cybertruck. It always seemed to me that the rectangular roof design and sails were more for roll-over protection and "toughness" rather than enough for full frame support. Now that makes sense to me if the battery pack is now structural. Any thoughts out there from the engineer types?

Also the triangular sail panel area is not solid. It is not even attached to the exterior exoskeleton. The area is hollow for storage with the doors on the exterior side of the truck (thus not attached to the exterior exoskeleton skin). A picture of the sail panel area door in open position was in the pictures Elon showed at the Nov 2019 reveal.

 

[T3slaDad]

To add to all the awesome comments, the prototype CT's, semis, and plaid S already have the 4680's in them. Elon commented on battery day that they have "many vehicles" already using the technology.

So yes, they definitely accounted for the new batteries in its design as those prototypes have had the cells in them before anyone outside Tesla even know they existed.