That's not really how crumple zones and modern automotive safety works.
There are videos of old cars vs. new in crash safety tests. The old cars are "stronger" and hold their shape better, but that doesn't help the occupants at all. It only transfers more energy into the humans inside.
what prevents similar crumple zones with steel? You don't think we can apply the lessons learned from the last 50 years to a steel body vehicle today?
It's not like the strength needs to be consistent everywhere. For example, you might want stronger frame around the battery while still having a crumple zone. Again, I don't see the metal choice as a determinate factor here, you can always make a steel part that underperforms an aluminum one, vice versa too
Straight steel is tough AF, it doesn't crumple the way modern vehicle metal alloys do. Teslas do have those titanium frames that protect the major areas of the vehicle (passengers and battery mainly), but the rest of the car can be crushed to smithereens and you'd most likely survive.
Some parts of cars are steel, which is fine. But having the entire body of the vehicle be steel is where you lose any benefit. What's going to crumple when there are no crumple zones? Most likely your spine...
> What's going to crumple when there are no crumple zones?
So you posit that it is impossible to make crumple zones with steel? That we cannot design a steel part that has crumple features? (or in Tesla's case, a single cast rather than numerous parts bolted or welded together)
Mild steel is used in crumple zones. Stainless steel (like the Cybertruck) is not. Mild steel is much more malleable and provides a much better crumpling. As well as a whole lotta engineering behind the scenes to optimize the type of crumpling. Since stainless steel has chromium in it, it's much tougher when impacted. Which is great for being bulletproof, but is absolutely not the best choice when it comes to prioritizing passenger safety.
EDIT: this isn't me being some contrarian cuz I don't like Elon. This is thousands of scientists' discoveries, research, and data over the course of almost 100 years at the tops of their fields in material sciences. If stainless steel could make a good metal to ensure passenger safety, we'd be using it by now.
How about we wait for the actual safety tests before claiming it will be better or worse for passengers? I suspect Tesla will continue their industry leading safety ratings.
I can design both steel and aluminum parts that I can or cannot bend, there's far more to it than the raw material choice
harder does not mean impossible, any vehicle will have to go through the same safety review, and with Tesla's above average safety ratings, this all seems moot to me
There are videos of old cars vs. new in crash safety tests. The old cars are "stronger" and hold their shape better, but that doesn't help the occupants at all. It only transfers more energy into the humans inside.