Follow us today…
The Tesla Cybertruck is fast, but as this owner found out, its range plummeted—a grim reminder that running at prolonged triple digits turns the CT into a gas-guzzling, big-blocked relic of the past.
Dewayne Parmer on the Cybertruck Owners Only Facebook page says,
“Running ole Beauford, my Tesla Cybertruck, at prolonged triple digits, he sucks the juice like an old school big block Chevy.”
The Draw To the Cybertruck Is Fuel Savings, But Speed Kills Range
Imagine living in Houston, Texas, and you just purchased a condo in Galveston, and you can’t wait to get to the beach. So, on I-45 heading south, you crank up the speed on the open road.
It’s a common occurrence on the weekends as vacationers head to the beach from the Houston area. The speed limit may be 65, but that doesn’t deter many from hitting the gas or the electric motor. Speeds of 80 to 85 mph are typical.
Dewayne says, “I recently bought a townhome on the Gulf of America for the weekends, have been coming here since 1982 from Houston, glad everything fits.”
The promise is an electric pickup truck that can pass up the gas station.
What drew countless buyers like Dewayne Parmer to the Tesla Cybertruck is its electric efficiency. However, its mind-bending acceleration and top speeds are addictive. For a growing number of owners, the reality of life with the Cybertruck is revealing a fundamental trade-off, particularly when it comes to long-haul, high-speed travel.
Dewayne’s comment ignited a firestorm of discussion, capturing the essence of the range anxiety that can plague even the most advanced electric vehicles.
Dewayne, who likes to put his vehicle through its paces, posted a simple but powerful observation: “Running ole Beauford, my Tesla Cybertruck, at prolonged triple digits, he sucks the juice like an old school big block Chevy.”
This seemingly casual remark strikes a deep chord with anyone familiar with the world of internal combustion engines.
A “big block Chevy” is the quintessential symbol of raw, unbridled power and, equally, a notorious disregard for fuel economy. By drawing this parallel, Dewayne is not just sharing a data point; he’s articulating a fundamental shift in vehicle performance. The effortless, silent power of the Cybertruck, so apparent in urban and suburban driving, gives way to a ravenous energy consumption at high speeds.
It’s Not A Flaw in the Truck
This is not a flaw in the truck, but rather a universal law of physics that affects all vehicles, amplified by the unique challenges of an EV. This brings us to a critical, and often misunderstood, aspect of electric vehicle performance: how does high-speed driving affect electric vehicle range?
The answer lies in the physics of aerodynamics and rolling resistance. As a vehicle’s speed increases, the forces of air resistance—also known as drag—grow exponentially. The Cybertruck’s distinctive, wedge-like shape, while visually striking, is not as aerodynamically slippery as a Tesla Model S or Model 3.
Its blunt front end and large, flat surfaces create a significant amount of drag at highway speeds, forcing the electric motors to work much harder to overcome this resistance. This is compounded by the truck’s immense weight and the size of its tires, which contribute to rolling resistance. While regenerative braking can recapture some energy during deceleration in city driving, this benefit is largely lost on the open highway, where maintaining a consistent speed is the primary goal.
Speed Kills Range
Advertising
The contrast between the Cybertruck’s advertised range and its real-world performance at triple-digit speeds is a recurring theme among owners and a subject of intense scrutiny in the automotive press. Independent tests, such as those conducted by Car and Driver, have shown that even at a more modest 75 mph, the Cybertruck’s real-world range can fall significantly short of its EPA estimates.
While the Cybertruck Beast is rated for 301 miles, Car and Driver’s test yielded 250 miles—a 17% reduction in range. Pushing the vehicle to Parmer’s “prolonged triple digits” would only exacerbate this drop-off. The truth is, while the Cybertruck is an engineering marvel, understanding the impact of speed on Cybertruck range and efficiency is paramount for owners who need to rely on the vehicle for long distances.
This issue isn’t exclusive to the Cybertruck.
It’s a fundamental characteristic of all electric vehicles. The difference is that the Cybertruck, with its heavy-duty utility and long-distance towing capabilities, is expected by many to handle tasks that put it squarely in the zone of high-energy consumption. A driver towing a heavy load at 80 mph, for instance, will see their range plummet far more dramatically than a commuter in a compact EV.
This is a crucial point that prospective buyers must consider, particularly those transitioning from traditional gasoline-powered trucks. The Cybertruck can absolutely achieve incredible feats of acceleration and power, but that performance comes at a cost, just like a high-horsepower gasoline engine.
The conversation sparked by Dewayne’s comment is a valuable one for the EV community.
It highlights the importance of real-world data shared by actual owners, which often provides a more nuanced and practical perspective than manufacturer specifications or controlled tests. For many, the “triple digits” scenario may be a rarity, but for those who travel extensively on open highways, the knowledge that their Cybertruck will “suck the juice” is vital for trip planning. It means making more frequent stops at Superchargers and carefully calculating charging times to avoid being stranded. This is the new reality of managing Tesla Cybertruck battery life on long-distance trips.
The Cybertruck’s design, while revolutionary, is a double-edged sword when it comes to efficiency.
The stark, unpainted stainless steel body panels are incredibly durable and strong, but they are not the smooth, flowing surfaces optimized for minimal drag. While Tesla has worked to improve aerodynamics with features like the tonneau cover, a simple glance at the vehicle’s profile confirms that it is built for strength and presence, not for maximum slipperiness. This has a direct impact on its performance at speed, which is why Tesla Cybertruck’s high-speed energy consumption analysis is a key topic for both owners and engineers.
The feedback from the Cybertruck Owners Only community reinforces a broader point about the electric vehicle market. While the headlines often focus on record-breaking acceleration and impressive range numbers, the user experience is defined by practical considerations. A truck, by its very nature, is a workhorse, and its ability to perform its duties reliably is its most important feature. For the Cybertruck, this means its range, charging speed, and real-world efficiency must be robust enough to meet the demands of a diverse group of owners. This is the core challenge for Tesla: to build a vehicle that is not just a technological statement, but a functional, dependable tool.
Moving forward, we will continue to see more such anecdotal evidence from owners, which will help to build a clearer picture of the Cybertruck’s capabilities and limitations.
These personal accounts, like Dewayne’s, are what truly inform the buying public. They provide crucial context to the glossy marketing materials and technical specifications, revealing the true nature of what it’s like to live with a vehicle that, for better or worse, is unlike anything else.
Conclusion
As a long-time automotive journalist, I’ve seen my share of vehicles that promise the moon and a little something extra. The Tesla Cybertruck is no different, a machine so audacious in its design and performance that it seems to defy the very laws of automotive engineering.
But as Dewayne Parmer’s simple, honest observation so perfectly illustrates, physics always gets the last word. His analogy of his Cybertruck, “Beauford,” sucking juice like an “old school big block Chevy,” is not a criticism, but a brilliant piece of practical analysis.
It’s a reminder that immense power, whether from gasoline or electrons, demands a tremendous amount of energy to sustain it, especially when you push the envelope.
It’s Your Turn
Do you worry about range anxiety in your Tesla Cybertruck or other electric vehicle? Do you find yourself driving more slowly to prevent your battery from draining too quickly? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.
Check out my Tesla Cybertruck story: Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Don’t Just Drive, I Deploy, Because This Isn’t Just a Truck, It’s a Statement, I’m Not Here To Fit In, I’m Here To Disrupt”
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Dewayne Parmer
Follow us today…
Source: torquenews.com
