all-electric pickup truck

Tesla Cybertruck may have a 'Back to the Future' Easter Egg Hidden in its Aerodynamics

Elon Musk may have left a Back to the Future Easter Egg for Cybertruck supporters who wanted to do an aerodynamic study on Tesla’s pickup truck. One such engineer decided to test the all-electric pickup's potential real-world capabilities on the road and see if Musk’s robust, unique design was made with aerodynamics in mind.

Justin W. Martin, who designs and engineers flying machines, may have found a little Easter Egg for those who wanted to test the aerodynamics of the Cybertruck. According to the engineer, when the all-electric pickup truck travels as 65 mph, the local velocity over the peak on the roof of the car is precisely 88mph. Back to the Future fans will recognize the 88mph from the movie as the speed needed to activate the flux capacitor and time travel.

Many people have wondered why the DeLorean needed to hit 88mph to activate the flux capacitor and travel through time. It has been widely spread that the numbers 88 were aesthetically pleasing to the flick’s production crew, which is why it was chosen.Credit: GIPHY

In reality, a DeLorean’s speedometer only goes up to 85mph, which may have perplexed a couple of people in the 80’s when Back to the Future was first released to theaters. By choosing a number higher than 85, however, the movie’s creators hinted that Doc’s DeLorean was particular and that he could have altered it for time travel.

Since its unveiling, the Cybertruck’s look has been called ugly, unique, and futuristic. There’s an obvious similarity between the Cybertruck and the DeLorean from Back to the Future in the way that both vehicles are stainless steel and futuristic. Both cars were made by (perhaps mad) geniuses, too.

Unlike the DeLorean, many people find Cybertruck's design a little too different. However, the CYBRTRK’s overall design, with its flat surfaces and sleek, yet somehow also razor-edged, look does have a purpose. Martin conducted an aerodynamic study of the Cybertruck through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software.

CFD software allows experts in a particular field, like engineers and automakers, to test the airflow through and around a vehicle, explained ARC. It’s essential to check how airflow impacts cars on the move because it greatly affects the way a car accelerates, handles, and its fuel or range mileage. Tesla's vehicles have generally performed well in these tests, though there were some reservations that the Cybertruck, with its sharp, straight lines, would be far less aerodynamic and efficient. 

However, Martin's aerodynamic study on the CYBRTRK seemed to yield positive results, though he did not publicly state a drag coefficient. Still, he credited the Cybertruck’s overall design for the study’s surprising findings. After all, it is quite a challenge to create a massive, angular, heavy all-electric vehicle that is not only efficient but aerodynamic as well. 

Featured Image Credit: Tesla

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About the Author

Claribelle Deveza

Claribelle Deveza

Longtime writer and news/book editor. Writing about Tesla allows me to contribute something good to the world, while doing something I love.

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