Elon Musk hints at a potential tungsten carbide coating for the Tesla Cybertruck, aiming to render it almost completely scratch-resistant, barring diamond-level hardness.
Musk suggests the Cybertruck may have an optional tungsten carbide coating for enhanced scratch resistance.
Previous bold claims about the Cybertruck include abilities like “Boat Mode” and “near infinite mass” pulling.
Tungsten carbide has been used in the auto industry, notably by Porsche for brake rotors, due to its durability.
In the dynamic world of electric vehicles, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has often been at the forefront of bold statements, especially regarding the brand’s much-anticipated Cybertruck. Among the many claims Musk has made over time, he recently hinted at a potential scratch-proof feature for the vehicle.
Tesla Cybertruck | Photo: Tesla
The idea stems from a recent interaction on X (Twitter) where Musk responded to a user’s comment about potential keying incidents involving the Cybertruck. His reply suggested the possibility of offering an optional tungsten carbide coating. Such a feature, according to Musk, would make the Cybertruck resistant to scratches from materials less hard than diamonds. While the truck’s stainless-steel composition provides a solid foundation for durability, a tungsten carbide coating would significantly elevate its resilience.
We might be able to offer an optional tungsten carbide coating, which is basically scratch-proof to everything below diamond hardness
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2023
This proposition adds to a series of fascinating claims Musk has made about the Cybertruck. Previously, he spoke about a “Boat Mode” that would allow the vehicle to cross bodies of water, using wheel rotation for propulsion. Additionally, Tesla’s website mentions the truck’s capacity to pull an almost “infinite mass.” However, details on these features remain sparse.
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The introduction of tungsten carbide as a protective coating for a vehicle is novel in the automotive sector. Even though no car manufacturer has employed it for an entire vehicle body, its application isn’t entirely foreign to the industry. Porsche, for instance, has utilized tungsten carbide-coated brake rotors to reduce wear, fend off rust, and minimize brake dust. According to the German chemical firm Linde, when tungsten carbide is mixed with a small amount of metallic powder, it produces carbide coatings renowned for their resistance to wear, abrasion, and erosion.
Tesla Cybertruck | Photo: Tesla
