One of many massive objects of hype across the Tesla Cybertruck when it was revealed 4 years in the past was that it could have an exoskeleton. Earlier than we get to what that really means, let’s have a look at the usual definition of an exoskeleton. From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an exoskeleton is: “a tough supporting or protecting construction (as of an insect, spider, or crustacean) on the skin of the physique.” As a substitute of an inner skeleton such as you and I’ve, it’s an exterior skeleton.

So, what does that imply with regard to vehicles and vehicles, and particularly the Tesla Cybertruck? Theoretically, that might imply that among the core supportive construction of the Cybertruck is seen on the skin. However we’ll get into extra element in a second when wanting on the patent utility for this.

Earlier than any of that, although, the rationale I’m writing about that is truly that I assumed primarily based on current headlines that Tesla had ditched the Cybertruck exoskeleton concept. I used to be beginning to write about this massive change primarily based on experiences in the Wall Avenue Journal (by way of Pocket book Verify), after which I found these experiences appear to be incorrect. (Perhaps.) The core declare is that “Latest spy pictures of their structural physique elements on the Gigafactory in Texas didn’t whiff of exoskeleton. In truth, they merely seemed like sections produced by Tesla’s price saving gigacast methodology with assist buildings and crumple zones that every one different automobiles bought within the US are constructed with.” In different phrases, this isn’t what some individuals have been anticipating relating to how the Cybertruck would look and be put collectively. Nonetheless, it appears that evidently what Elon Musk meant by “exoskeleton” remains to be what we’re getting.

Tesla filed a “Car with Exoskeleton” patent utility in Might 2021. The summary of that patent utility explains what the corporate means relating to this time period: “A automobile having an exoskeleton exterior panel that gives crash resistance is described. The outside panel could also be shaped from a monolithic steel sheet and hooked up to an exterior portion of the automobile body, and the outside panel doesn’t comprise an extra assist construction. Not less than one part could also be instantly hooked up to the outside panel, and the outside panel could bear the load of the at the least one part. Strategies of producing the automobile are additionally described.”

So, yeah, the exoskeleton is there to supply extra security and is each a metal assist construction and part of the truck’s exterior. Listed here are pics of the diagrams from the patent utility:

That each one appears the identical, no?

The Wall Avenue Journal article about this claims that “sources acquainted with the matter” point out that the exoskeleton was dumped “at the least partially, to fulfill security requirements.” The one downside: so far as we will inform, the exoskeleton remains to be there and is a part of the structural assist of the Cybertruck. If we’re lacking one thing, although, tell us! Perhaps there have been sure design components that have been dropped or modified to be able to fulfill security requirements and testing?

I do not like paywalls. You do not like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Right here at CleanTechnica, we carried out a restricted paywall for some time, but it surely all the time felt incorrect — and it was all the time robust to resolve what we must always put behind there. In principle, your most unique and finest content material goes behind a paywall. However then fewer individuals learn it! We simply don’t love paywalls, and so we have determined to ditch ours.

Sadly, the media enterprise remains to be a troublesome, cut-throat enterprise with tiny margins. It is a unending Olympic problem to remain above water and even maybe — gasp — develop. So …