SoulPedal
New member
- First Name
- John
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2026
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- Location
- Chandler, Az
- Vehicles
- '26 Launch Series Juniper, '25 Model 3, '21 Model YP
- Occupation
- Retired Engineering Technologist
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- #1
This could easily be in Service thread but it also helps clarify the RT economics. We can move it as needed. Work in progress, open ended.
I'm suggesting that the metal frame (sides, castings) are reusable on a very long time-frame service schedule. Sounds crazy at first, and would need to be baked into the overall design - IDK without see it more closely. The hint that Tesla was headed this direction for me was in the elimination of paint using plastic body molds, a single motor, super efficient, smaller, 48V steering, and a low part count. Each of these play a key role in enabling this concept, and the more I study it, the more obvious it becomes.
When reviewing the early (brief) factory video footage (pic above), best I can tell, there's an entire module containing the Front Motor, Steering servos, AC, air intake etc (black lower section with many pulleys). It appears to be marrying above to the Dash Module (with Display and possibly computer and other modules shown in the next photo).
Here's a shot showing the Display, dash/vents flying in from above, but the motor assy isn't shown yet. So they're messing with us, likely on purpose. Below looks like the center seating section which could be hidden or separate operation IDK. The dash section might be already combined with the rectangular crush zone posts but hard to tell.
Next, if we consider the interior cabin, every exposed surface inside needs to be able to exit through the doors. Even though it was all assembled then boxed in with the side pillars, I'm 99% confident all can be replaced easily. The trunk is even easier as it almost looks like a giant tray.
So what's left, battery, wiring, body panels, glass lights, wheels... And what if much more than just the battery could be replaced as a single unit from below? If the lifespan of the other components are matched, this would be a huge payoff.
Since we expect millions of these made, the refurbishment system should be designed for min waste and labor, and include obvious automation by reusing some of the assy tooling and a Lego approach to the vehicle design.
Stripping down to bare aluminum at say 700k would require a sophisticated disassy methodology but would not need to be as cost effective as the original line due to the materials, energy, and floorspace saved. If this can be done - it's a big if. But the other elements could take it a couple of battery cycles, motor, interior, etc...
My background is mainly in maintenance and troubleshooting industrial equipment so I'm simply taking a more manufacturing approach to CyberCab design if I were to extract the maximum value from each unit. The economics are critical to make or break this as a business. These must last a long time, and the thought of crushing for scrap is legacy thinking.
I even looked at % of every ICE vehicle scrapped to the junk yard and it's over 50 of the components are still usable. The main culprit is the frame and body rust combined with multiple failures or a major. It's a beater that got sick and the cost to refurb is extremely high. I did it once to a '63 Buick Conv and never again. So anyone with a legacy auto focused background would not likely consider this level of reuse and efficiency.
Tesla certainly had enough time to think this through. The biggest unknown for me is how well this can come apart in a different order/method from the way it was assembled originally. And if it's actually necessary to separate the sides (ultrasonic/chem remove epoxy). Lots of questions really...
I'm suggesting that the metal frame (sides, castings) are reusable on a very long time-frame service schedule. Sounds crazy at first, and would need to be baked into the overall design - IDK without see it more closely. The hint that Tesla was headed this direction for me was in the elimination of paint using plastic body molds, a single motor, super efficient, smaller, 48V steering, and a low part count. Each of these play a key role in enabling this concept, and the more I study it, the more obvious it becomes.
When reviewing the early (brief) factory video footage (pic above), best I can tell, there's an entire module containing the Front Motor, Steering servos, AC, air intake etc (black lower section with many pulleys). It appears to be marrying above to the Dash Module (with Display and possibly computer and other modules shown in the next photo).
Here's a shot showing the Display, dash/vents flying in from above, but the motor assy isn't shown yet. So they're messing with us, likely on purpose. Below looks like the center seating section which could be hidden or separate operation IDK. The dash section might be already combined with the rectangular crush zone posts but hard to tell.
Next, if we consider the interior cabin, every exposed surface inside needs to be able to exit through the doors. Even though it was all assembled then boxed in with the side pillars, I'm 99% confident all can be replaced easily. The trunk is even easier as it almost looks like a giant tray.
So what's left, battery, wiring, body panels, glass lights, wheels... And what if much more than just the battery could be replaced as a single unit from below? If the lifespan of the other components are matched, this would be a huge payoff.
Since we expect millions of these made, the refurbishment system should be designed for min waste and labor, and include obvious automation by reusing some of the assy tooling and a Lego approach to the vehicle design.
Stripping down to bare aluminum at say 700k would require a sophisticated disassy methodology but would not need to be as cost effective as the original line due to the materials, energy, and floorspace saved. If this can be done - it's a big if. But the other elements could take it a couple of battery cycles, motor, interior, etc...
My background is mainly in maintenance and troubleshooting industrial equipment so I'm simply taking a more manufacturing approach to CyberCab design if I were to extract the maximum value from each unit. The economics are critical to make or break this as a business. These must last a long time, and the thought of crushing for scrap is legacy thinking.
I even looked at % of every ICE vehicle scrapped to the junk yard and it's over 50 of the components are still usable. The main culprit is the frame and body rust combined with multiple failures or a major. It's a beater that got sick and the cost to refurb is extremely high. I did it once to a '63 Buick Conv and never again. So anyone with a legacy auto focused background would not likely consider this level of reuse and efficiency.
Tesla certainly had enough time to think this through. The biggest unknown for me is how well this can come apart in a different order/method from the way it was assembled originally. And if it's actually necessary to separate the sides (ultrasonic/chem remove epoxy). Lots of questions really...
