Now almost four years later, the YouTuber posted an update on Truckla. And just like every other big project that one probably started, Giertz stated that she actually stopped working on Truckla when the vehicle was about 80% complete. The car is driving though, but a lot of stuff was not really working very well. 

Thus, for her Truckla update, Giertz shared how most of her Model 3 pickup truck conversion was essentially completed. Truckla got a lot of detailing done, she got a slight lift, and she now has a functional tailgate. One has to admit, Truckla’s tailgate is pretty darn cool. 

The “Queen of Sh*tty Robots” also opted to give Truckla a friend in the form of an automatic robot charger. Unlike Tesla’s rather interesting snake charger from years past, Truckla’s charger would come in the form of a rover, thanks to her friends at robotics platform Viam. Giertz aptly named Truckla’s robot charger friend “Chargela,” which is an appropriate name for such an invention. 

Also true to form for Giertz, Chargela’s first encounter with Truckla was just a tiny bit awkward. One could say that Chargela may have just been a little bit nervous on his first try without human hands helping him. Most importantly, the system did work, so Giertz would likely keep using Chargela for her Model 3 pickup. 

Teslas are very tech-heavy vehicles, so projects like Giertz’s Truckla are always remarkable. The fact that the Model 3 works perfectly fine despite having a good chunk of it cut off and turned into a pickup truck bed is mighty impressive any way one looks at it. Overall, Truckla will always be one of the coolest Tesla DIY projects to date, so any updates about the vehicle are always appreciated.  

Truckla’s nearly four-year update can be viewed below.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Tesla owner David Andreyev, who goes by the username @Cyber_Hooligan_ on Twitter, has spent the last few months creating a Cybertruck-inspired version of the next-generation Roadster made from a salvaged Model 3 Performance. Starting with a Model 3 Performance is an inspired choice, considering that it is Tesla’s first vehicle that has a dedicated Track Mode. 

A look at Andreyev’s YouTube channel, which can be accessed here, shows the meticulous build that the Tesla owner has implemented on the project car. What’s particularly cool about the CyberRoadster is the fact that it’s being built with parts that are also from other Tesla vehicles, like its front bumper that came from a new Model S. Recent videos suggest that the project car’s rear bumper will be from a new Model S as well. 

The journey is long for Andreyev, so the completion of the CyberRoadster will likely take some more time. Despite this, seeing the Tesla owner’s DIY journey on such an epic build is more than satisfying. And considering that the CyberRoadster is evidently a labor of love from the Tesla owner, the final results would likely be extremely worth it. 

There’s a lot of crazy Tesla modifications that have been done as of late. But some, as it is with a lot of things on the internet these days, have become more silly gimmicks than serious automotive projects. Fortunately, car enthusiasts like Andreyev, who just happen to also love electric vehicles, are taking it upon themselves to create one-of-a-kind EVs that would surely capture the attention of anyone on the road. 

Check out the latest video in the CyberRoadster’s creation below. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Callaghan planned to use only the sun and the solar sheets purchased from e-commerce platform Wish to charge his Model 3. The solar panel sheets would collect energy from the sun and transfer it to a control panel. The control panels were connected to batteries that would hold the energy—the batteries connected to an inverter, which would then charge the Tesla Model 3.

The entire assembly would provide the Model 3 with about 800 watts of energy on a completely sunny day. However, Callaghan shot the video when weather was overcast, so the entire solar panel trailer build only managed to provide around 300 watts throughout the YouTube host’s test.

To put this into perspective, a 100 volt home wall outlet provides 1.4 kilowatts of power, or 1,400 watts. Therefore, the 300-watt solar panel assembly built by Callaghan was producing less than 25% of the energy of a typical wall outlet. This is pretty marginal compared to Tesla’s 250-kilowatt V3 Superchargers, which provides 250,000 watts, or about 833 times as much power as the makeshift solar panel build.

However, Callaghan’s goal was not to charge the vehicle quickly. He explained the idea came from a previous video where he used a $5,000 Wish-purchased wind turbine to charge his Model 3. He wanted to test the effectiveness and efficiency of the system, which was questionable due to the time it would take to charge the battery fully.

The Model 3 battery pack is 78 kWh, and with Callaghan’s 300-watt system charging his electric vehicle, it would take 260 hours to supply the Tesla’s battery to full capacity.

In the past, electric vehicle enthusiasts have asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk why the company’s vehicles do not contain solar glass roofing, which would charge the car while the owner is driving. Musk has explained that the efficiency of this idea is challenging and likely would not provide an ample amount of range.

When asked about the idea of putting solar panels on the top of Tesla’s vehicles in 2017, Musk responded that the idea was “Not that helpful, because the actual surface of the car is not that much, and cars are often inside. The least efficient place to put solar is on the car.” It also would not be cost-effective for Tesla because “the cost of the panels and electronics, R&D and assembly would never pay for itself in the life of the vehicle, compared to charging from the wall in your garage,” Quartz noted.

That being said, Tesla plans to implement solar panels onto the motorized tonneau of the upcoming Cybertruck. The idea was discussed on Twitter when Musk stated that the optional feature would add “15 miles per day, possibly more” when parked in the sunlight. Also, fold-out solar wings could help capture enough solar energy for 30 to 40 miles a day.

Watch Sean Callaghan’s video of his makeshift solar panel trailer below.

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However, the Cybertruck Owners Club created the Tesla Cybertruck 3D Visualizer Tool. It is a free program that allows anyone interested to design the look of the Cybertruck, and it is a fun way to customize the future look of perhaps someone’s next car.

You will be able to wrap it in any color or pattern

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2020

The Visualizer tool allows for Texture, Main Color, Shine, and Sticker customization. Seeing as Musk hinted that the truck could be wrapped in any pattern, there is an indication that some of the craziest and most unique designs could be seen. The Visualizer Tool could be the place where thousands of designs that will eventually be on the road are designed, especially considering all User Creations are kept on a database within the website.

The Cybertruck 3D Visualizer Tool goes past the color of the truck and allows people also to view different window tint levels and suspension heights. This portion of the Visualizer gives full reign to the designer, who will be allowed to see what they plan to do with their Cybertruck.

Another interesting point of customization has to do with the perspectives from either the driver’s or passenger’s seat, giving the optional white interior look a close-up view.

The Visualizer also has an Easter Egg that will be familiar to anyone who watched the vehicle’s unveiling event. It can be triggered by clicking on the windows of the Cybertruck.

While the Cybertruck’s design is arguably one of the most interesting in the automotive industry today, some were concerned if Tesla would adopt their five standard colors along with the stainless steel look to the pickup. When Musk dropped the bomb that wraps would be available, people went wild sharing with the Tesla CEO their designs.

The Cybertruck is set to be released next year toward the end of 2021, with the vehicle’s Dual and Tri-Motor variants first being produced at what will be the company’s most significant and newest Gigafactory. The Single Motor variant will be available in 2022, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to wait to see what their future truck will look like.

Visit the Cybertruck Owners Club’s Cybertruck Visualizer here.

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Beware of copy cats, OG custom made Tesla Model 3 Key Rig. Only $100 hand crafted by my loving wife ⁦@hopegrrrl⁩. pic.twitter.com/GSPhNIKjXC

— Patrick Lawson (Pox) (@walkingcrow) December 1, 2019

The primary key to gain access to a Tesla Model 3 is the owner’s smartphone. However, if one is having trouble using their mobile device, such as when it’s not accessible or when it’s out of battery, a key ring serves as a handy and easy-to-use backup. The latest creation is another example of novel ideas by the Tesla community to further enhance their lifestyle.

The Tesla Trip owners dissolved the card portion of the Model 3 keycard in acetone to isolate the copper antenna of the RFID. The copper was then wound around a circular ring mold and mixed with resin.

The Tesla ring key DIY project was inspired after the couple saw fellow Tesla Model 3 owner and biohacker-YouTuber Amie DD implant the Model 3 keycard chip into her arm.

Connected smartphone apps for vehicles are nothing new. Audi has an e-tron app that helps owners manage the different functions of the vehicle. BMW meanwhile has iRemote so owners of the i3 and i8 can check their charging information, battery levels, and the range of the vehicles. Ford also introduced Phone-as-a-Key technology with the recently-unveiled all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E.

For Model 3, Tesla issues two key cards that vehicle owners can use to access and start their vehicles. These cards can also be provided to other individuals such as a valet who needs temporary access to the vehicle. The Tesla key card is tapped onto the pillar on the right of the driver’s window to open the vehicle. It is tapped onto a spot just behind the cup holders to start the ride.

Another alternative to the phone is a Model 3 Key Fob that looks like a miniature version of the car. If set up properly, the key fob can give passive entry to the vehicle. It may also work like the usual key fobs and you just have to press once to lock the door and twice to open the vehicle.

Planning to make your own Tesla Key Ring? Watch the video on how to turn your Tesla Model 3 key card into a ring below.

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A demonstration of the system in action was recently shared by Tesla owner-enthusiast Bjorn Nyland on his YouTube channel. In it, Daniel Billing, the 2014 Model S owner, showcased how the aftermarket driver-assist system allows his vehicle to gain Autopilot capabilities. After a brief introduction of the open-sourced driver-assist system’s hardware, Billing took his pre-AP Model S to the highway and showcased how his vehicle behaves when it’s operating on its own. 

Remarkably, the 2014 Model S was incredibly smooth as it steered itself and followed other vehicles on the road. The interface of openpilot is even fully integrated with the Tesla Model S’ infotainment system, thanks to root access to the all-electric sedan. With this setup in place, openpilot looks very much like the part it is intended to play — a more accessible, affordable alternative to the Apple of driver-assist systems, Tesla’s Autopilot. 

The performance of the pre-AP Model S in Nyland’s video is quite admirable considering that the vehicle does not even have a radar installed. comma.ai does offer a radar for openpilot, but the Model S owner noted that he has not gotten around to having the additional hardware installed yet. Once a radar is installed on the vehicle, it would not be surprising if Billings’ pre-AP Model S ends up performing comparably with an AP1 Model S, at least on the freeway. 

That being said, there are some drawbacks with such a system. For one, openpilot does not feature Tesla’s Autopilot “nags,” which means that drivers could keep their hands off the steering wheel for extended periods of time. It is evident in Nyland’s video that the Model S owner is very cautious with the system, but with no nags in place, openpilot may end up fostering careless behavior from inattentive drivers. The system also appears to operate outside Tesla’s Neural Network, which means that its improvements will likely not follow the pace of newer vehicles in the electric car maker’s fleet. 

But for what it’s intended for, openpilot seems like a solid solution. The demonstration of the system’s capabilities in Nyland’s video may be brief, but it does show a pretty good idea of just how well the Android of driver-assist systems works in the real world. 

Watch a Pre-AP Tesla Model S use Autopilot features in the video below. 

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I’m a big fan of Rich Benoit of Rich Rebuilds (YouTube) and Electrified Garage (his business with a mechanic friend), and it’s not just because he’s a “rebel mechanic” of sorts, always taking on unconventional challenges. Honestly, it’s because to me he represents the wave of DIY EV enthusiasm that will eventually take electric-powered personal transportation from its semi-elite status to an everyday-person commonality.

Backyard or home garage projects with various cars, classic or otherwise, has created an industry all its own with a hobby base that fuels it. While NASCAR-level performance is often out of reach financially (and practicality-wise), car enthusiasts are still inspired to invest in performance upgrades to their vehicles on a regular basis, and there’s even an entire community that spends a lot of time and money on classic car restorations. (I know I’m just rehashing the obvious here, but it’s relevant.)

These things are, of course, already starting to pop up with an electric spin via various EV conversions of other cars. EV West is one of the better known shops that pretty much does this exclusively, but it’s still a bit of an overly expensive undertaking that requires very specialized know-how. I watch videos featuring their work with about the same level of gawk as I do racing events featuring Tesla performance packages I will probably never be able to afford (or need). This is where guys like Rich come in that appeal to a very different, if more modest, crowd.

Rich’s channel is dedicated to showing you, the everyday DIYer, how EVs don’t have to remain something that only certified super mechanics and specialized shops can touch. This is particularly relevant to Tesla owners, in my opinion, and not just because Rich focuses on making Tesla mad by restoring their totaled vehicles. Sure, the company is making strides to have great service that can even come to wherever your car is, if needed. The long-long term reality though, I think, is that people will get to the point where they want to be able to have more control over the cost to maintain their cars as they age. I mean, if batteries are supposed to last a million miles soon, that means a Tesla might change ownership some five+ times before it needs a new power source. Even then, the owner might replace it with another used battery and sell it again and again, etc.

I’m not sure what Tesla’s corporate plans are for this particular kind of future, just that their leasing plans for the Tesla Network would avoid it entirely. There’s going to be a big used EV market eventually, though, and something that might really impact its viability to customers is whether or not they can work on their own vehicles. I know I worry about it vicariously, if that even makes sense.

I’ve had a mix of used and new cars over the years, but something that always worried me was having things break that I couldn’t just order online for a good price and have my local mechanic replace. Or my husband. I owned an older Mercedes very briefly once, and the first thing to go was its fancy single windshield wiper during the first storm of the year. That was a $700 fix that only a mechanic could touch! My Honda’s wipers, on the other hand, required a $70 part that had an online video to guide me through the replacement procedure.

I think these kinds of things will really matter in the long term for the average car shopper, and it takes DIYers digging into the EVs on the market to bring about that sort of availability and consumer choice. Mercedes, to reference my example again, is supposed to be a luxury vehicle that’s expensive to maintain. Tesla is trying to appeal to all consumers, as I’ve mentioned a few (dozen) times.

Here’s another angle to think about. The environmental point of all this EV stuff should be a big factor in the used market as well. Consumer trade-ins and trade-ups are pretty common, and a leasing-focused future encourages this. But if the carbon footprint of making a new vehicle is compared with that of restoring or maintaining an older one, I assume keeping older cars in good condition would be the environmental preference, no? Anyhow, I’m glad guys like Rich are around, pointing to one of the directions the industry needs to go.

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The video of the Model S motor deep dive was shared by YouTube’s What’s Inside? channel, which, as the name implies, made its mark in the video streaming platform through videos that feature teardowns of selected products, from electronics like Apple devices to vehicle components like a Tesla Model X tire. 

The initial parts of the teardown were as expected of the channel’s entertaining aspects, with hosts Dan and his son Lincoln finding humor in the vast amounts of coolant that was sealed inside the electric motors’ inner chambers. That being said, perhaps the most interesting part of the video involved a look at the electronics within the Model S motor itself. 

The boards within the Model S electric motor were set up very well, hinting that the component was designed to be as compact and durable as possible. The arrangement of the boards itself was also particularly interesting, as they were set up in a triangular pattern that gives them an appearance that is strangely reminiscent of Tony Stark’s New Element Arc Reactor. 

Elon Musk’s bold and rather eccentric image has been compared to the fictional billionaire Tony Stark in the Marvel universe, who also happens to be the superhero Iron Man. Musk has been quite close to the Iron Man character, at one point even making a cameo in one of the superhero’s films. Thus, there is some humor to be had in the fact that Tesla’s first wholly-designed vehicle, the Model S, featured what appeared to be an unintentional reference to the iconic character in one of its most important components. 

The What’s Inside? hosts ended the teardown video on a cliffhanger, opening the gearbox but not touching deeper workings of the Model S’ electric motor such as its magnets and coils. As such, there is a pretty good chance that a second part of the Model S’ electric motor teardown will be shared in the popular YouTube channel in the future. 

What’s particularly notable is that for all its impressive electronics, the Model S motor featured in the teardown video is from a vehicle that is already around seven years old. Over this time, Tesla has not stopped innovating, and thus, its current-generation electric motors are likely far more advanced. One can only hope that a teardown of a Model 3 motor could be shared online in the near future as well. 

Watch What’s Inside?‘s Tesla Model S electric motor teardown in the video below. 

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Tesla owner and enthusiast Brian Jenkins, who has shared a few other Tesla-focused DIY projects such as an urban Supercharger for his garage and staining the wood panel dashboard of his Model 3, published a video of his latest project in his i1Tesla YouTube channel. Brian previously shared his solution that would allow his Model 3’s hood to lift automatically when it is opened from the Tesla app or the electric car’s 15″ touchscreen, and this week he applied that same technique to his Model X.

The technique is rather simple, as he revealed last year with his Model 3. After removing some top cover pieces hiding access to the mechanisms, a retaining clip needs to be pried off before popping the stock struts off. Then, the new gas struts are installed by popping them into the slots left by the Model X’s original parts. Brian also replaced the spring in the frunk locking mechanism to lessen the force required to lock it again.

With this replacement, the Model X frunk opens completely after the electronic unlocking mechanism already included by Tesla is activated rather than requiring additional human assistance to open from a semi-closed position. It should be noted that the frunk does not close automatically. Brian also noted in the video that the sturdier struts did require some additional force to close the frunk than with the stock parts thanks to their being 140 lb struts, which are a little more powerful than the stock variants. However, a two-handed approach to closing works without any issues, and Brian had multiple family members successfully attempt it.

The parts used for Brian’s latest Tesla mod were two StrongArm 4882 Lift Supports Struts Shocks from Amazon, and a soft close spring from Lowes measuring 3/8″ x 2″ x .35″. The struts listed go for around $40 for the pair on Amazon, and the spring cost about $2. Upon completion of the strut modification, the Model X’s frunk fit and finish afterwards was the same as it was from the factory.

Watch Brian’s installation of his DIY Model X automatic frunk in the video below.

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Introduced back in February, Sentry Mode taps into a Tesla’s suite of cameras to provide a set of watchful eyes around a vehicle while its owner is away. Videos captured by the feature have already been proven useful, with law enforcement using footage from Teslas to identify car thieves and vandals multiple times in the past.

With Tesla’s continuous pace of evolution, it will likely be only a matter of time before Sentry Mode receives an update that makes it more robust. One such potential upgrade was showcased during the recently-held Defcon hacker conference, with Model 3 owner and security researcher Truman Kain revealing one of his novel projects. Dubbed the Surveillance Detection Scout, Kain’s DIY computer essentially supercharges Sentry Mode and TeslaCam, turning a Tesla into a mobile surveillance unit.

During his presentation, Kain noted that Scout allows Teslas to capture and analyze videos from their cameras using custom software and a $700 Nvidia Jetson Xavier mini-computer. The device utilizes Darknet as its machine learning engine, ALPR Unconstrained for recognizing license plates, and Facenet for tracking faces. The DIY device fits into the center console of a Model 3 or Model S, plugging into the vehicles’ dashboard USB port.

In a statement to WIRED, Kain highlighted that Scout uses software and hardware that is already available. “I’m not doing any cutting-edge AI. I’m just applying what’s already freely available, off the shelf,” he said.

The DIY solution allows Teslas to recognize and analyze license plate numbers and faces that are captured by its cameras, alerting owners if repeated plates and faces are detected. These alerts are then pushed through the IFTTT app. Kain notes that the system could have the potential to help Tesla owners, particularly those who have reason to believe that they are being followed or cased. “If it helps keeps someone safe, that’s great. If it lets me know that someone’s sneaking around my car, that’s also great,” he said.

The potential privacy issues of such a project are notable. Scout essentially transforms a Tesla into a mobile surveillance unit, and this comes with potential ethical and legal issues. Automatic license plate reading capabilities will make Scout illegal in Arkansas, New Hampshire, Maine, and Georgia, for one, while its Google NEST-like facial recognition features will make it illegal in Illinois. And these are all before the idea of data sharing is discussed. That’s a completely different can of worms on its own.

In a message to Teslarati, Kain noted that the Surveillance Detection Scout is, ultimately, a means to raise awareness of what could be expected as more and more vehicles get Tesla-like security features. Tesla might be the only company that is constantly rolling out software updates like a Silicon Valley tech company, but with the advent of electrification, it will only be a matter of time before even veteran carmakers will jump into the internet-based active vehicle security bandwagon.

For Kain, among the worst-case scenarios would be a third party company creating a Scout-like device that would store customers’ data and sell them to market research firms. “There is a very real risk of some random guy like me or some small company having access to video and rich vehicle data for thousands or tens of thousands of Tesla’s if they package this up and market it as the ‘NEST cam for your Tesla’ – and like everything else these days, people would likely sign away the rights to the data in return for free service,” he mused.

While Tesla is not in the security business, Kain believes that it will only be a natural progression for the company to improve Sentry Mode to make it more robust. In a message, the security researcher mused that Tesla would likely introduce NEST-style capabilities, live viewing, and perhaps timeline reading, to its security features in the future. This is quite plausible, especially since Tesla already has access to its fleet’s data. The researcher noted that Tesla could, in the future, even monetize these upgraded security features as a paid service.

Overall, Kain states that he remains hopeful for Tesla and its future as a more prolific carmaker. “With all of that said, I love my car, support Tesla and Elon’s mission(s), and am simply trying to raise awareness around what may likely happen as more and more camera-equipped vehicles get on the road,” he wrote.

Watch a teaser for Scout’s capabilities in the video below.

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