Tesla's Cybertruck commenced its deliveries in the United States this month, marking a significant milestone for the innovative pickup.
Distinguished by its unique design, the Cybertruck features a cargo bed panel that opens to facilitate easy loading of goods.
This groundbreaking vehicle has achieved numerous world-first distinctions:
- The world's inaugural stainless steel car, boasting a body reportedly resistant to bullets. Its angular shape adds an extra layer of safety, causing severe collisions with conventional vehicles.
- The heaviest pickup on the market, weighing 3.5 tons. With passengers and cargo on board, it can surpass 4 tons, twice the weight of a typical pickup.
- A less-publicized but remarkable achievement: the world's pioneer vehicle with an exclusive 48V internal power supply.
Traditionally, vehicles had lower power requirements, necessitating lower voltage. Initially at 6V direct current, this later increased to 12V. Presently, all vehicles employ a 12V power supply inside, with accompanying electronic devices designed for this voltage.
However, the Cybertruck boldly departs from this norm, opting solely for a 48V internal power supply. This decision mandates custom-made electronic devices due to the vehicle's substantial power consumption.
Why did the Cybertruck forsake the conventional 12V power supply? The answer lies in its high power demands, rendering 12V voltage impractical and causing wire overload.
Reports indicate that the Cybertruck's colossal 1.2-meter-long wiper blades require a formidable 3600 watts to start. Under a 12V voltage system, the current surges to 300 amperes, necessitating excessively thick wires.
By transitioning to 48V, the voltage increases fourfold, while the current requirement drops to a mere quarter of the original, addressing the issue of power consumption. This predicament isn't unique to the Cybertruck; other electric vehicles encounter similar challenges, with the 12V voltage serving as a historical limitation in automotive development.
The advantages of adopting a 48V system are manifold:
- A 75% reduction in current requirements eliminates the need for thick wires, significantly decreasing copper usage, cutting costs, and reducing overall vehicle weight.
- Lower current minimizes wire heat generation, diminishing transmission losses.
- The 48V voltage aligns with Power over Ethernet (POE) standards, enabling certain devices to be powered through Ethernet cables, consolidating signal transmission and power supply into a single line. Additionally, Ethernet transmission surpasses the speed and stability of current twisted pair cables.
Despite these advantages, the 48V system has drawbacks, including limited supporting electronic devices and higher costs. Furthermore, a comprehensive redesign of the vehicle's power supply system is imperative.
In a commendable move, Tesla has publicly disclosed the Cybertruck's circuit design, extending a collaborative hand to other car manufacturers. Ford's CEO expressed surprise at receiving Tesla's drawings, prompting Elon Musk's nonchalant reply of "You're welcome."
Encouragingly, it is hoped that more automotive companies will adopt the 48V power supply in their designs, contributing to the advancement of the industry.
