Tesla Cybertruck prototype spotted with minor changes

By Stephen Edelstein Published February 10, 2023

What appears to be a new Tesla Cybertruck prototype has been spotted testing on public roads.

As relayed by Electrek, Twitter user Greg posted a photo Thursday showing a Cybertruck with a different front-end design from what we’ve seen previously. The front bumper has a more distinct rectangular opening, possibly for cooling. This prototype also has triangular side mirrors, as opposed to the squared-off ones seen previously.

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NEW CYBERTRUCK SIGHTING! So much to take in here.. hmmm pic.twitter.com/SMpD1FzZRA

— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) February 9, 2023

The truck also sports a massive single windshield wiper, something that has appeared on previous prototypes, but that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said won’t make it to production, according to Electrek. It will be interesting to see what alternative solution Tesla comes up with for cleaning that massive flat expanse of glass.

Electrek believes that this truck is one of at least two “beta” prototypes currently out on the road, distinct from another vehicle spotted in Palo Alto, California, last week. Tesla considers beta prototypes to be a step closer to production than initial alpha prototypes, so while there have been several Cybertruck spotting before, this might be an indication that the truck’s angular design will be preserved in the transition to production-spec.

Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019 and production was originally scheduled to start in 2021. That was delayed multiple times, though, and customers will still have to wait a while to put a Cybertruck in their driveways. During a quarterly earnings call in January, Musk said that while Tesla is aiming to start production by the end of the year, it won’t fully ramp up until 2024. Musk doesn’t expect Tesla to deliver vehicles in significant quantities until then.

During the earnings call, Musk said the Cybertruck would get Tesla’s next-generation Hardware 4 suite of sensors and computers for driver-assist tech but didn’t provide an update on specifications, which have fluctuated a bit since the truck was unveiled. At the time, Musk said the Cybertruck would be offered in single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor and tri-motor all-wheel drive configurations, but in 2021 he also mentioned a four-motor version, saying it would be the first produced.

Tesla has lost the lead in electric trucks. Since the Cybertruck was unveiled, other automakers have launched their own electric pickups, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T, with the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and an electric Ram 1500 waiting in the wings. If it finally goes on sale, the Cybertruck will likely rely primarily on its unique design and the general appeal of the Tesla brand to attract customers from these more conventional alternatives.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Nissan joins ChargeScape, a way for EV owners to sell watts back to the grid

electrify america home charging station for electric cars

EV owners already enjoy the benefits of knowing their vehicle is charging up quietly while they sleep. Now they can dream about how much money they can make in the process.That’s the bet Nissan is making by joining ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda.ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects electric vehicles to power grids and utility companies. When connected with ChargeScape's platform, EV drivers can receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. ChargeScape says they will eventually also be able to sell the energy stored in their vehicle's battery back to the power grid.
A 2021 study by the University of Rochester found that EV owners could save up to $150 a year by using V2G technology. But the technology has evolved in recent years. V2G company Fermata Energy says that in some circumstances, a customer using its bi-directional charger was able to save $187.50 in 15 minutes by drawing energy from a Nissan LEAF to avoid costly demand charges.
Nissan intends to roll out the ChargeScape technology to its EV drivers across the U.S. and Canada. The company says the move is of particular significance given its U.S. sales of 650,000 Leaf models, one of the first EVs with the capability to export power back to the grid.ChargeScape, which launched in September, is equally owned by BMW, Ford, Honda, and now Nissan. But it expects other automakers to join the party.In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. The project comes at a time when EV sales and infrastructure growth are ramping up quickly, along with challenges for the electric grid. Simply put, more EVs on the road means more demand on utilities to provide the needed power.At the same time, more and more EV makers seek to incorporate automotive software that provide advanced driver aids and other connected features. With vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology quickly spreading, ChargeScape is entering a landscape where competitors such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, Fermata Energy, and BP Pulse are already vying for a piece of the action.
But there is one good reason for ChargeScape to move in now: Tesla, which otherwise dominates the field in the U.S., has so far backed off from embracing V2G technology, focusing instead on its Powerwall home-battery solution to store solar energy and provide backup power. However, CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

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The Tesla Supercharger network is expanding again

Teslas parked using the Tesla Superchargers.

EV owners worried about getting stranded before their next charge may breathe a bit easier now: The Tesla Supercharger network has resumed its expansion over the last three months, after massive layoffs at Tesla had led to a slide in new stalls earlier this year.Tesla opened 2,800 new Supercharger stalls globally during the three-month period ending September 30, an increase of 23% from the year earlier, according to the company’s official Tesla Charging account on X (formerly Twitter).Tesla also delivered 1.4 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy during the third quarter, which translates to 27% year-over-year growth. The Tesla Charging account said the amount of energy delivered enabled Tesla owners to save over 150 million gallons of gasoline, offsetting more than 3 billion pounds of CO2.According to the website Supercharge.info, which relies on user contributions to track the opening of new stalls, there were 2,677 Supercharger stations in North America at the end of September, 125 more than at the end of the third quarter.The additions of new stalls, however, comes in the wake of a 31% slide in the second quarter, after a massive round of firings at the company removed 500 employees from the Supercharger team in April.The third-quarter expansion should still go some ways to appease the concerns of Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) owners, as EV manufacturers are lining up in droves to be able to use the Supercharger network.In September, General Motors electric vehicles made by Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac joined the growing list of vehicles to have adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). The network already allows access, via adapters, to EVs made by Ford, Rivian, Honda and Volvo. The likes of Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo and Jaguar have also signed agreements to start allowing access in 2025.
The Tesla map of Superchargers across the U.S. reveals they are concentrated in major cities and across East-West transit corridors.According to Tesla, a Supercharger can add up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.

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Tesla has to fix another issue with the Cybertruck

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla is fixing an issue with the rearview mirror on 27,000 Cybertrucks.

A recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that affected vehicles include those manufactured between November 13, 2023, and September 14, 2024, suggesting that pretty much all of the Cybertrucks on the road require the fix.