Running A Cybertruck On Mostly Solar Power — Interview

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The final time I interviewed Anthony Sicari, it was about when he examined his house solar energy and Tesla batteries to generate and make the most of his own electricity for a bit of over a month as a substitute 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 announced 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 power and energy storage enterprise. On his YouTube channel, he has uploaded some movies together with his Cybertruck in them.

The 2019 interview generated a whole lot of consideration, so it solely appeared pure to comply with as much as verify in with him concerning 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 so cool. It’s one thing that I’d 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 assumed it was simply a few hundred {dollars} for the reservation, so I figured I’d fear about it in a few years if it was ever made and determine then if I actually wished it. Then, push involves shove, it’s January, and Tesla messages me saying if I need the Cybertruck, it will likely be roughly one other $1,000 fee to carry my reservation. At that time, I began questioning if I actually wished this truck and if I actually wished to swing the price of a Founders Sequence Cybertruck.

I known as my pal in Hawaii who has a photo voltaic firm, and he mentioned, “Anthony, not only is that truck so cool, but you can wrap it and use it for marketing the solar business as well. It’s a no-brainer.” What higher approach to ship supplies to job websites than a sleek-looking Tesla Cybertruck? And what higher approach to drive engagement from the group than to have this sick rig driving round? We now have achieved totally different occasions with the truck, however essentially 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 of boy screaming, “Mom, it’s a Cybertruck!” It’s been a blast speaking to individuals about this truck.

What do you want about it to this point?

I’m not going to lie; it took me a little bit of time to heat as much as the automobile. Clearly, it was enjoyable to drive, however I wanted a while. At first, I nonetheless wished to drive the all-electric Ford Lightning. It felt too removed from sensible initially, however over time you notice what an engineering masterpiece this truck actually is and also you additionally dial within the settings of the truck and be taught extra about it. The extra you drive it, the extra you assume, “Wow, this steer-by-wire is absolutely amazing,” and “This retractable tonneau cover is so useful.” 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.

Something you’ll change?

There’s nothing I’d change concerning the truck in addition to having extra frunk house. It looks like a whole lot of house is unused, and it might be nice to suit a stroller or bigger objects within the frunk.

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

This truck is just not a trailer queen, we use it each 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 bought the truck, simply the primary 3 days when it was not wrapped was near unattainable to maintain up with the fingerprints.

Do you continue to have 3 Tesla Powerwalls?

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

Did you broaden your solar energy system, and if that’s the case, what’s the complete 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 dimension to assist cowl extra of the load from these electrical autos.

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 must always have the ability to shut the hole on an annual foundation.

I’ve two Stage 2 chargers at my house and 4 at our workplace in Modena. The info is fairly cool to have a look at my house—simply this 12 months, 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, complete YTD, we used a mixed 7,359 kWh for all our electrical autos, and our photo voltaic produced a complete of 11,426 kWh. Sadly, my house used 14,256 kWh, not together with automobile charging, so 12 months so far, we’re at 50% offset.

What do you employ the Cybertruck for?

This Cybertruck wears many hats. We use it as a day by day driver for the household, and we even have it parked outdoors our workplace, the place a minimum of two individuals a day pull in or take photos of the truck. At some point the truck was in entrance of our workplace and the utility firm was altering a lightweight on the pole and we should of had 10 utility line staff throughout the truck asking questions. Beginning subsequent month, we shall be delivering Tesla Powerwall 3s within the Cybertruck. And final however not least, we use it for various group occasions.

Do you might have some other EVs?

Sure, we’ve got a Mannequin Y, a Ford Lightning, and the Cybertruck.