Modified Tesla Cybertruck taken offroad for an entire weekend in freezing conditions, testing it to the limit in an off-grid environment

  • This Tesla Cybertruck was taken 100 miles offroad in freezing weather
  • The challenge was to do a round road trip without having to charge
  • Out in rural California, such a task is easier said than done

Published on Jan 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson

Last updated on Jan 23, 2025 at 11:37 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

This modified Tesla Cybertruck was taken off road for an entire weekend in freezing conditions to be pushed to the limits.

This challenge was the work of YouTube channel Donut, who wanted to put the truck into the barest circumstances.

That meant limited charging options in a desolate landscape, far from help.

Did we mention they’re doing it 100 miles offroad?

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Pushing a Tesla Cybertruck to the extreme

The journey started out in Los Angeles before heading out into the wilderness.

Things weren’t off to a great start as the truck was down to 24 percent charge after driving for an hour.

After charging, they found themselves back down at 72 percent one hour later.

The host remarked: “I drastically need to slow down.

“Everything you do in the truck uses more battery – lights, music, cruise control, even navigation.

“You know, all the things you use on a road trip.”

His co-host commented: “You can’t even open up the glove box.”

As if that wasn’t stressful enough, the first stop on their trip was a massive downgrade in terms of charging points.

Whereas LA has hundreds to spare, the town of Lone Pine has exactly one.

Something is ‘lone’ there, that’s for sure.

Finding charging points is a challenge in many places in the US – and it’s not just EVs facing this challenge.

Hydrogen charging points are exceedingly rare – to the point where virtually none exist outside of California.

By the time they got to Lone Pine for one last top-up, they were down at 32 percent.

This was going to be a tough weekend.

How did it fare out in the wilderness?

The team made it to Alabama Hills, which would serve as their base camp, with 73 percent left.

It was time for the offroading to begin – although it didn’t take long for the battery to fall south of 70.

The host said: “This is the biggest issue off-roading with the Cybertruck.

“You don’t just need enough fuel to get where you’re going, but you need enough fuel to get back.”

Nobody wants to be stranded, least of all out in the wilderness.

Other Tesla vehicles have met this fate before, including one which was found abandoned at 10,000 feet in Utah’s snowy mountains.

After another recharge, it was time for a round trip of Death Valley – famously hospitable, as the name suggests.

All additional features were turned off in an effort to conserve power.

Things weren’t made easier when a landslide meant that they would have had to take a longer route.

With only 43 percent left, there was no chance of them successfully completing a round-trip.

Which is a shame, because there were some nice hot springs at the end.

Just what you need to take the edge off a stressful drive.

To see the road trip for yourself, head over to Donut’s YouTube channel.

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Ben got his start in journalism at Kennedy News and Media, writing stories for national newspapers, websites and magazines. Now working as a freelancer, he divides his time between teaching at News Associates and writing for news sites on all subjects.