Elon Musk provided some insights on how the much-anticipated Cybertruck’s “Boat Mode” might work.
Musk’s ideas sounded plausible, considering some of the ideas we have seen around this mode.
On Twitter, he responded to user RGV Aerial Photography by noting that :
You’d need an electric propeller mounted on the tow hitch to go faster than a few knots. There might [be] a creative wheel hub design that can generate meaningful thrust.
You’d need an electric propeller mounted on the tow hitch to go faster than a few knots.
There might a creative wheel hub design that can generate meaningful thrust.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2022
Now the questions around “Boat Mode” are deserved.
Last month, Musk announced that the Cybertruck would be able to cross the channel from Starbase to San Padre Island.
The crossing is about 477 metres, so we are not talking miles here.
Here's a recent aerial image of the ship channel in reference to @elonmusk tweet regarding a Cybertruck crossing the ship channel from Starbase to South Padre Island.
I calculated a 15-25 min trip if the channel route to SPI is used vs 49 min trip it currently takes. pic.twitter.com/ZodQ1BZezu
— RGV Aerial Photography (@RGVaerialphotos) October 3, 2022
However, the Cybertruck will be a heavy vehicle, and as per Musk, the car will be “waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat”.
Waterproof enough is not a great combination of words when discussing nautical adventures.
However, if anyone wanted to spend the time and energy to design a vehicle to also provide a nautical option, it would be Tesla.
We should note we have yet to see any indication of the company developing a tow hitch propeller or wheel hub to provide thrust.
Only time will tell if Tesla engineers are developing this technology.
But considering that government agencies are already warning against this, Tesla might be persuaded to do it.
Our derelict vessel crews are begging you to understand that anything that “serves briefly as a boat” should not be used as a boat https://t.co/lcrunbf1DJ pic.twitter.com/j2eL5tGcJZ
— Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources (@waDNR) September 29, 2022
