Working A Cybertruck On Principally Photo voltaic Energy — Interview

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The final time I interviewed Anthony Sicari, it was about when he examined his dwelling solar energy and Tesla batteries to generate and make the most of his personal electrical energy for a bit over a month as an alternative of utilizing grid electrical energy. (Elon Musk re-tweeted that interview.)

Then, the world was fairly totally different. It was pre-pandemic and the Cybertruck had been introduced however was nowhere close to manufacturing.

Arriving in 2024, it seems Anthony now has a Cybertruck and he makes use of it in his solar energy and vitality storage enterprise. On his YouTube channel, he has uploaded some movies along with his Cybertruck in them.

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The 2019 interview generated loads of consideration, so it solely appeared pure to comply with as much as examine in with him in regards to the distinctive electrical pickup truck. 

Why did you determine to buy a Cybertruck?

I initially determined to buy the Cybertruck as a result of, rattling, that factor appears to be like so cool. It’s one thing that I might like to take off-roading and who is aware of perhaps stress check it by throwing a metallic ball on the window for enjoyable, lol. Initially, I believed it was simply a few hundred {dollars} for the reservation, so I figured I might fear about it in a few years if it was ever made and determine then if I actually needed it. Then, push involves shove, it’s January, and Tesla messages me saying if I would like the Cybertruck, will probably be roughly one other $1,000 cost to carry my reservation. At that time, I began questioning if I actually needed this truck and if I actually needed to swing the price of a Founders Collection Cybertruck.

I referred to as my buddy in Hawaii who has a photo voltaic firm, and he stated, “Anthony, not solely is that truck so cool, however you’ll be able to wrap it and use it for advertising and marketing the photo voltaic enterprise as nicely. It’s a no brainer.” What higher technique to ship supplies to job websites than a sleek-looking Tesla Cybertruck? And what higher technique to drive engagement from the neighborhood than to have this sick rig driving round? We’ve completed totally different occasions with the truck, however probably the most rewarding was the New Paltz Contact-a-Truck occasion. The youngsters had been completely stoked to see it. I’ll always remember a bit boy screaming, “Mother, it’s a Cybertruck!” It’s been a blast speaking to folks about this truck.

What do you want about it thus far?

I’m not going to lie; it took me a little bit of time to heat as much as the car. Clearly, it was enjoyable to drive, however I wanted a while. At first, I nonetheless needed to drive the all-electric Ford Lightning. It felt too removed from sensible initially, however over time you understand what an engineering masterpiece this truck actually is and also you additionally dial within the settings of the truck and study extra about it. The extra you drive it, the extra you assume, “Wow, this steer-by-wire is totally wonderful,” and “This retractable tonneau cowl is so helpful.” I filmed a video of our expertise selecting up the truck, and on the finish of the video, it was so humorous—my new child daughter Mia made an enormous poop, so we didn’t even pull out of the parking zone with the Cybertruck earlier than we had been already utilizing the middle console as a altering desk. So, the Cybertruck is baby-approved.

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Something you’ll change?

There’s nothing I might change in regards to the truck moreover having extra frunk house. It looks as if loads of house is unused, and it will be nice to suit a stroller or bigger objects within the frunk.

The wrap appears to be like actually good. Did you get that primarily to make it simpler to wash the Cybertruck?

This truck just isn’t a trailer queen, we use it day-after-day and have it at totally different occasions. So, sure, the fingerprints would have been unattainable to maintain up with on this truck, so wrapping it was a necessity. Once we first obtained the truck, simply the primary three days when it was not wrapped was near unattainable to maintain up with the fingerprints. 

Do you continue to have three Tesla Powerwalls?

I nonetheless have three Powerwalls which have been working nice, and I’m within the means of including a fourth, in addition to upgrading my Tesla Gateway at dwelling in order that I can benefit from the PowerShare from the Tesla Cybertruck. It’s wonderful that each one current Powerwall clients don’t must do something however have an current Gateway and a Tesla charger, and their Cybertruck is now extra battery capability. So, if all the pieces goes as deliberate, I presently have three Tesla Powerwalls totaling 40.5 kWh. In the event you add the Cybertruck on high of that, it’s an extra 123 kWh, so my dwelling can now have 163.5 kWh of backup storage. That’s completely wonderful, particularly within the Northeast the place we lose energy very often, and within the winter when our total dwelling runs off electrical—from heating and cooling to home equipment and transportation. That is actually going to assist.

Did you develop your solar energy system, and if that’s the case, what’s the whole kW now?

My present photo voltaic system is 17.2 kW, with 48 360-watt panels, and I’m within the course of of accelerating the system measurement to assist cowl extra of the load from these electrical automobiles. 

Does it present sufficient electrical energy to energy the Cybertruck?

In these summer season months, my photo voltaic system does cowl the utilization of the Cybertruck, the Tesla Mannequin Y, and the Ford Lightning. However within the winter months, we’re at roughly 50%. With the added photo voltaic to the house, we should always have the ability to shut the hole on an annual foundation. 

I’ve two Stage 2 chargers at my dwelling and 4 at our workplace in Modena. The information is fairly cool to take a look at my dwelling—simply this yr, the Cybertruck and the Ford used a mixed 5,334 kWh from the Wallbox charger, and the Tesla used 2,025 kWh from the Tesla charger. So, whole YTD, we used a mixed 7,359 kWh for all our electrical automobiles, and our photo voltaic produced a complete of 11,426 kWh. Sadly, my dwelling used 14,256 kWh, not together with car charging, so yr so far, we’re at 50% offset.

What do you utilize the Cybertruck for?

This Cybertruck wears many hats. We use it as a every day driver for the household, and we even have it parked exterior our workplace, the place at the very least two folks a day pull in or take footage of the truck. At some point the truck was in entrance of our workplace and the utility firm was altering a light-weight on the pole and we should of had 10 utility line employees throughout the truck asking questions. Beginning subsequent month, we will probably be delivering Tesla Powerwall 3s within the Cybertruck. And final however not least, we use it for various neighborhood occasions. 

Do you may have some other EVs?

Sure, we now have a Mannequin Y, a Ford Lightning, and the Cybertruck.