Cybertruck owner who drove over 50,000 miles reveals 'the truth' about how it's impacted his vehicle
When it comes to apocalypse-defying vehicles, Tesla has pitched the Cybertruck as a big deal.
Whether it be surviving in some Mad Max-inspired desert scene or plowing through hordes of zombies, the Cybertruck supposedly does it all.
Away from the world of fiction, the electric pickup has gained something of a reputation for showing it might not be as hardy as Elon Musk would have you think.
From owners cracking glass simply by walking on it to adult film stars shooting holes in their own Cybertrucks, we've also seen potential flaws with snow buildup and mass recalls. Still, the Cybertruck proves to be a viral sensation that some like to flex their automobile muscles with.
Advert
There are questions about how hard-wearing the Cybertruck is, but thankfully, you don't have to splash $100k to find out.
Over on YouTube, TesLatino has put the Cybertruck through its paces and revealed 'the truth' after 50,000 miles of driving the electric vehicle. More than just cruising around suburbia and dropping the kids off at school, Rafael Santoni's adventures even took him on a 5,500 trip to the Arctic Circle.
From getting his limited Foundation Series Cybertruck delivered on March 4, 2024, it's fair to say TesLatino has hammered it.
Having explored North America, Canada, and even visiting the Arctic Ocean, Santoni breaks down how his Cybertruck is faring at the 50,000-mile milestone.
Covering range, energy use, performance capabilities, and the issues he's encountered during his first seven months of Cybertruck ownership, TesLatino noted that while it started with 318 miles of range, that's now dipped to 309 after 50,000 miles.
He says that most of his charging has been done on Tesla's DC fast charging network, which isn't advised to get the most out of your vehicle.
Still, he claims it's been incredibly convenient for his non-stop travels.
At 50,000 miles, his Cybertruck had consumed 25,628 kWh of energy, which averages at 513 Watt-hours per mile.
Before his adventure, it was around 471 Wh/mi with off-road tires. TesLatino says that while this might seem high, he does a lot of highway driving and admits he doesn't drive 'slow'.
As you can imagine, speed and elevation changes affect range, although he did get nine hours on a single charge when driving to the Arctic Ocean.
In terms of charging, he said the only reason you'll be out of power is due to 'negligence' because very few areas in the USA aren't covered by the Tesla network.
Of course, TesLatino's rig isn't any standard Cybertruck - boasting a carbon fiber adventure rack, rooftop tent, and even Starlink to connect to the internet for all that streaming.
Santoni suspects that his modifications have reduced efficiency by around 25%.
When it comes to issues TesLatino says he's encountered, the only real one has been the cover for his cargo bed.
Finally, he breaks down the all-important question of how much it costs to run a Cybertruck, and assuming that it's about 30 cents per kWh for supercharging (scaled up by his total 25,628 kWh used), that's $7,688.
Charging at home with an estimated rate of 11 cents per kWh goes down to $2,819.
As he has free supercharging until June 2025, it gives a hint at what it would cost in the future.
Clearly a fan of his Cybertruck, TesLatino concludes: "After driving over 50,000 miles, many times through extreme conditions and off the beaten path, I can confidently say that the Cybertruck is more than just a truck. It's a gateway to adventure."