Tesla’s Cybertruck may not be so stainless after all::‘Literally bulletproof’ but needs constant cleaning to stave off corrosion
Tesla’s Cybertruck may not be so stainless after all::‘Literally bulletproof’ but needs constant cleaning to stave off corrosion
Tesla uses SS301 stainless. DeLorean used SS304.
301 is cheaper, less resistant to corrosion, can resist more force applied to it before failure, formes better in stamping, doesn’t tolerate high-temperatures as well.
My guess is they used 301 due to cost and forming properties. Supposedly they use 301 on the Starships, so bulk pricing would help keep production costs low. Had they used 304 the raw material cost and cost of production at volume would be higher but they would be less likely to have these corrosion issues, assuming they aren’t welding the panels.
SS301 is a great material. It’s workable, ductile, and still plenty hard. It’s absolutely perfect for work holding in an industrial spot welding environment.
Why on earth they’d use that for body panels is fucking beyond me. Ok, it’s bullet proof, kinda, which is cool I guess? I’ve never been shot at in a car, I don’t know anyone who’s ever been shot at in car.
I know lots of people with cars that they don’t like to rust. Or scratch tho. Seems like the bigger problem in car design honestly
Totally agree. But is this an appropriate use for it? I regularly have to use sandpaper to remove surface rust from my SS301 knife. And I don’t leave that out in the rain. It’s just surface rust, doesn’t damage anything, but it is rust and it’s very ugly.
Thankfully with a knife, it takes two seconds to remove the rust. With an entire car? And body panels with areas that are hard to get to? Honestly if I was going to buy a cybertruck I would paint it.
If you want “real” stainless, you want 316, but it’s not as strong and would require significant modifications - making it thicker/heavier/more expensive/worse battery range/etc.
Maybe the cyber truck owners will convince themselves the rust is a beautiful patina (and your cat sucks because it doesn’t have one!)
Instead of gold versions, rich people will get inconel-pannel cybertrucks!