Futuristic cars are taking to the streets in Lincoln, and local residents have differing opinions on them.
Tesla’s 2024 Cybertruck became available in late November, and a handful have made their way to the Capital City.
Two months ago, a Reddit user shared a picture of a Cybertruck at Holmes Lake, saying the owner was very kind to let him and his children take pictures with the truck and even sit inside. Numerous comments on the post called the vehicle “ugly” or “weird looking.”
Others responded that they found the idea “pretty cool” and enjoyed seeing the “innovation and creativity in vehicles.” A few commenters said it looked better in person than they expected from pictures circulating the internet.
“In person, it just looks surreal, like it shouldn’t exist,” said Joe Smith, who recently purchased his own Cybertruck. “My opinion is it looks futuristic and other trucks just look old now. So for me, I really like the look of it, but I understand it’s different, it’s divisive.”
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For the most part, Smith, a local software engineer, has had pleasant interactions with community members who stop to inquire about the truck’s features such as the engine charge and towing capacity.
“I’m usually happy to talk about it if someone’s interested in it just because it excites me when people are excited to talk about electric cars,” Smith said.
He also enjoys taking the chance to roll up the bed cover and drop the tailgate to reveal the 4-foot by 6-foot truck bed.
According to Tesla, Cybertrucks have an 11,000-pound towing capacity, 340-mile charge range and can reach speeds of 130 miles per hour. The truck is also made with an ultra-hard stainless-steel exoskeleton to reduce dents and damage along with shatter-resistant armor glass.
Not every encounter is as pleasant for Smith, who has become accustomed to the not-so-friendly interactions as well.
“Every once in a while, there’s some big diesel truck driver that pretends he’s vomiting or flips me off or speeds up and tries to cut me off,” Smith said.
The Cybertruck, which has garnered him far more attention than any other Tesla, has become a common photo op as well.
“Every time we go anywhere, there’s at least one or two people that ask if they can take a selfie with it,” Smith said. “In the Haymarket, sometimes there will just be a line of people waiting to take pictures with it or ask me questions about it. It’s crazy. Kids really love it.”
There are nearly 10 Cybertrucks driving around Lincoln now, according to Smith.
He was first given the option of purchasing Tesla’s first pickup truck in November 2019 during an unveiling event. For a refundable $100, Smith, along with 200,000 others, secured his place.
“I figured at the time, this is an incredibly weird-looking truck, but it’s $100, so I have the optionality to get it some day,” Smith said.
It was a while before that day came. With production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t until last December that Smith was invited to make the big purchase.
“I didn’t pull the trigger right away because by that point, I’d like to assess if I really wanted this thing,” Smith said.
While making his decision, a local friend followed through with purchasing the truck, allowing Smith and his wife to test drive it.
“My wife had driven it for about five minutes when she looked at me and said, ‘Joe, we gotta get this truck,’” Smith said.
The couple was instantly hooked on the practicality of the truck. After owning an SUV and a sedan, they wanted a truck bed for bikes, garden work and hauling purchases home from department stores.
Smith, who considers himself an eco-conscious person, purchased his first electric vehicle, a Chevy Volt, in 2012.
“We liked the idea of a zero-emissions car and the convenience again of never having to go to a gas station,” Smith said. “Waking up in the morning with 300 miles of range, that’s just a convenience that once you get used to, you don’t want to give it up.”
In 2018, he purchased his first Tesla, a Model 3 compact car. Since then, his fondness for Tesla has grown for the instant torque response, performance priorities and full self-driving mode. The Cybertruck, Smith’s fifth Tesla, is his new day-to-day vehicle.
“It has become the only car that both me and my wife want to drive,” Smith said. “Our other cars are not unfun to drive, they’re just not as fun to drive.”
Generally, Smith has preferred driving sedans and smaller vehicles, and he’s never liked the idea of a traditional truck with low fuel economy.
“That’s the weird thing about the Cybertruck, it drives like a compact car just because of the four-wheel steering. You can maneuver in and out of pretty much anything,” Smith said.
While driving at higher speeds outside of town, Smith said lane switching is barely noticeable.
“You’re just kind of gliding from lanes,” Smith said. “It feels very confident in switching lanes in a way that no other car does.”
Smith said the only downside so far is the Cybertruck's five seats. His Tesla Model X featured three rows to easily fit his wife, two kids and two 100-pound dogs.
“That’s probably my gripe is not having a place to put the dogs so we can all go somewhere together,” Smith said.