Last week, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, introduced an all-electric pickup truck, dubbed Cybertruck. The new battery-powered vehicle was brought as direct competition to the Ford F Series, which has been the best selling pickup truck for more than 40 years in the U.S.
During the unveiling of Tesla’s sixth vehicle model, Musk displayed a video of a head-to-head contest between the Cybertruck and a Ford F-150. In the short clip, the futuristic pickup comfortably wins a tug-of-war competition against the F-150. But, Sunny Madra, VP at Ford X, is questioning the results and asking for a fair rematch.
Many people have questioned the video in which a Cybertruck squares off against a Ford F-150. Even the renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson stated that electric vehicles tend to be heavier over both axles than traditional vehicles. He argued that the Cybertruck had a clear advantage due to the “source of traction.”
Tyson said:
This contest is more about the Physics of Friction than Engine Power.
Now, Sunny Madra is demanding an “apples-to-apples” test to show the real power of the Ford F-150. Madra believes that Musk used a lower range and outdated version of the F-150 against a mid-range Cybertruck with a dual-motor and all-wheel-drive setup. This could have guaranteed the EV truck the win.
But, Musk is confident that the Cybertruck will win and seems to have accepted the challenge.
It remains to be seen which of the two pickup trucks will win the “fair rematch.” Although the Cybertruck made the headlines last week with extraordinary specs and futuristic design, time will tell if it will be able to dethrone the 40-years tenure that the F-150 has had as the best selling pickup truck in America.