Cybertruck's charging curve leaves drivers disappointed
Since hitting the roads, Tesla Cybertruck owners have been vocal about their concerns regarding the massive size and questionable autonomous features of the unique electric vehicle (EV).
Some cases have praised the vehicles' resilience in car collisions, whereby in the first Cybertruck crash, minimal damage was observed on the Cybertruck itself.
Meanwhile, suspicions about the Cybertruck's poor charging performance have been confirmed after one couple showed the charging curve of the Cybertruck on their YouTube channel.
The video displays a Cybertruck charging session at the Tesla supercharger in Mesa, Arizona.
Advert
The activity throughout the entire charging session can be observed at 5x speed next to a graph reflecting the charging curve.
The video shows the vehicle quickly reaching a peak charge rate of 255 kW but tapering off rapidly. By 40% state of charge (SOC), the charge rate drops to 150 kW.
It reached a plateau of 75-80 kW around 66% SOC, maintaining this rate until around 90% when the Youtuber's camera died.
Overall, the charging session of the Cybertruck took a total of 50 minutes, from 14% SOC to 90% SOC, adding 94 kWh of energy to the vehicle's battery.
Given the Cybertruck’s huge 123 kWh battery, Tesla fans have expected quicker charging than this.
However, it might be unfair to judge the Cybertruck's performance so early on.
First, the Cybertruck is a much larger vehicle with a presumably larger battery pack.
Moreover, the software plays a huge role in managing a vehicle's charging curve and Tesla is known for consistently rolling out improvement updates.
So it's quite possible that what we're seeing now is not the final version of the Cybertruck's charging capabilities.
Tesla has set a high bar for itself. Its Model 3 and Model Y have been praised for their efficient charging curves, often maintaining higher speeds for a more significant part of the charging session.
Peak charging speed is an important stat on any electric vehicle (EV). The higher the charge rate the quicker you can get back on the road after a charging session.
However, what's just as important for EVs is the charging curve.
The charging curve is about how long it can maintain the peak charge rate before lowering or 'tapering'.
A good curve means you spend less time plugged in and more time on the road. That’s why when a curve underperforms, it matters.
EVs can’t sustain peak charge rates forever, so will usually lower to a slower rate over time.
Think of it like any electrical device like a smartphone or a laptop. Over time, they maintain a 'peak' charge of optimal performance, but this slows down as the device is used and charged more.
Manufacturers often specify the EV's charge time to 80% as charging beyond this can negatively impact its battery durability.