How Fast Is The Tesla Cybertruck?

‍Tesla Cybertruck Power Specifications

Right now, we know there will be three main Cybertruck configurations. The base model will be rear-wheel-drive. The mid-level offering is a dual-motor vehicle with all-wheel-drive (AWD), and the top-of-the-line model features a tri-motor configuration with an AWD driveline.

Currently, Tesla has not released specific horsepower and torque specifications. However, some sources estimate that the Cybertruck will have between 600 hp and 850 hp, and a 1000 hp model is not totally inconceivable.

We can infer additional clues by analyzing the competition. Tesla’s chief competitors in the EV truck market are Rivian with its all-electric truck and SUV lineup and GM’s new all-electric Hummer.

The Rivian truck and SUV will reportedly make 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque. We also know that GM’s electric Hummer will debut with around 1000 hp. A little over a decade ago, horsepower and torque numbers like these were unheard of even for heavy-duty trucks.

Tesla Cybertruck Acceleration and Top Speed

Recently, Tesla released some basic acceleration and speed information for the Cybertruck. At this point, we speculate that the rear-wheel-drive Cybertruck will have a top speed of 110 mph, and the dual-motor and tri-motor all-wheel-drive Cybertrucks will have a top speed of 130 mph.

The tri-motor Cybertruck will have the best acceleration, though it’s formidable across the line. The base model reportedly accelerates to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The AWD dual-motor model can reach 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and the tri-motor Cybertruck accelerates to 60 mph in an astonishing 2.9 seconds.

Why is the Tesla Cybertruck So Fast?

There’s a lot we don’t know about the Cybertruck yet. However, we can’t explain why the Cybertruck will undoubtedly be one of the fastest pickups on the road. It has to do with the vehicle’s unique all-electric drivetrain.

Conventional pickup trucks are powered by internal combustion engines that run on either diesel or gasoline. Internal combustion engines have what’s called a powerband. The powerband denotes the RPM at which the engine produces its peak horsepower and torque output.

Conventional engines hardly ever produce their peak horsepower and torque numbers at the same RPMs. For example, an engine might make 600 hp at 5500 RPM and 650 lb-ft of torque at 3300 RPM. In a sense, a traditional engine has to “wind up“ to reach its full power potential.

Electric vehicles, such as the cyber track, are not bound by such natural limitations. An electric vehicle can produce all of its power immediately and throughout the entire acceleration range. That’s 100% power 100% of the time, provided it’s not digitally limited for purposes like traction control.

Does the Tesla Cybertruck Have an Electronic Governor?

Tesla vehicles typically have an electronically governed top speed of between 163 mph and 200 mph. You can change, namely reduce, the top speed in the car settings—but you can’t increase it beyond the top speed without a software update.

At this point, we’re not entirely sure what the factory-limited top speed of the Tesla Cybertruck will be. It’s safe to assume that it’ll be lower than the performance sedans like the Model S Plaid, as the increased height, reduced aerodynamics, and top-heaviness of the Cybertruck will likely make 200 mph quite unsafe.

Can I Disable a Tesla Speed Limiter?

You can further limit the top speed of your Cybertruck in the vehicle settings, and you can increase it back to the factory top speed whenever you like. This can be useful if, for example, can you tell us the keys to a teenager who probably shouldn’t be allowed to exceed 100 mph.

Factory top speed governor is an entirely different story. You may be able to disable the electronic speed governor on Tesla Cybertruck. And if you can’t, somebody on the forums will probably figure it out at some point. But you probably shouldn’t ever do that.

The speed limiter on a Cybertruck, or any Tesla for that matter, isn’t like the device on a 1990s V8 Camaro. Electric drivetrains are subject to entirely different forms of stress, and issues like overheated cables and batteries may result in catastrophic consequences such as fires.

Additionally, Tesla vehicles like the Cybertruck have way more power than the vast majority of fast cars. It’s also a different kind of power that exerts tremendous forces immediately and in different ways.

Vehicles are electronically limited because, without a limiter, they could just continue accelerating until the vehicle comes apart or gets airborne. It’s happened to performance cars on drag strips before, and it could certainly happen to a Tesla with a disabled limiter.

Another reason why Tesla vehicles come with speed limiters is because of the tires and the brakes. Partners have a maximum rated speed. Tesla only uses high-quality tires on their vehicles, but even these can fail under the forces of excessive speed. Tires that fail due to overspeed usually explode, which usually leads to bad outcomes.

At worst, the brakes won’t be able to stop the car in time. At best, friction and heat generated while decelerating from excessive speeds could warp the rotors or damage the pads prematurely. So unless you get a software update from Tesla that increases the speed of your Cybertruck (which happens sometimes), it’s best to avoid tampering with the system.

Is the Cybertruck Faster than Conventional Trucks?

Yes. The Cybertruck will certainly be faster than the vast majority of conventional pickup trucks on the road, even if they have higher horsepower and torque ratings.

Let’s revisit an earlier section on powerband numbers. The Tesla Cybertruck produces its peak power immediately and throughout acceleration. That means it’ll easily smoke a conventional pickup truck off the line and continue in a full-power pull before and after the conventional truck reaches the peak of its powerband.

In other words, the Cybertruck has more power more of the time, which directly translates two real-world speeds and acceleration. Any Cybertruck would be hard to beat, and it would stand a fighting chance against some of the most advanced gas-powered sports cars.