

News
Tesla is releasing a 'Plaid' Cybertruck, and it's a Ford F-150 Raptor Killer
In what seems to be the automotive equivalent of a brazen act intended to show dominance, Elon Musk has announced on Twitter that Tesla will be releasing a “Plaid” version of the Cybertruck. Musk did not provide further details in his tweet, though there is little doubt that the feature will make the already daunting Tri-Motor pickup into something downright scary for its fossil fuel-powered rivals like the Ford F-150 Raptor.
Elon Musk’s Plaid Cybertruck revelation was shared on Twitter late Wednesday. While responding to Tesla owner-enthusiast and Third Row Podcast member Sofiaan Fraval, Musk stated that he would be driving a Plaid version of the all-electric pickup truck for personal use. This came as a pleasant surprise to the EV community, especially since this is the first time that such a version of the Cybertruck has been mentioned.
Elon Musk has mentioned in the past that the Tesla Cybertruck will have the handling and performance of a sports car, and this was highlighted during the vehicle’s unveiling event. Apart from showcasing its strength by having the hulking all-electric pickup pull a Ford F-150 like a rag doll, Tesla also featured the Cybertruck drag racing a Porsche 911, and crushing the iconic sports car in the process. These are bold demonstrations, and each was met with equal parts excitement and skepticism from the auto community.
While the sight of the Cybertruck beating a Porsche 911 in a straight line race was undoubtedly impressive, the feat itself can be explained by the specs of the top-of-the-line all-electric pickup. Tesla lists the Tri-Motor Cybertruck with a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds despite its large size. That’s well within supercar territory, and quicker than the Model 3 Performance and Model Y Performance, both of which are considered by enthusiasts as legitimate canyon carvers.
Interestingly enough, Elon Musk did not reveal if the 2.9-second 0-60 mph time announced for the Tri-Motor Cybertruck simply involves its raw acceleration, or if such time is possible only with the use of a dedicated “Plaid Mode” launch. If it’s the former, then the Cybertruck’s fastest trim may very well be even quicker than expected. That’s a pretty crazy thought, and it could lead some to speculate if a Plaid version of the all-electric pickup is even needed. The short answer to this is a definite “yes.”
The pickup truck market is no longer only about utility. It is also about performance. This is the reason why the Ford F-150 Raptor, a bear of an off-roader that can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, has become the poster boy of the modern pickup. The truck market is notoriously brand-loyal, so any new challengers to the segment would have to bring their best just to be recognized. The Cybertruck’s Plaid version does this job perfectly.
Teslas are known for their tech and their crazy acceleration, with cars like the flagship Model S being known to shame supercars left and right on the drag strip. The Cybertruck is the same, and with three motors at its disposal, there is little doubt that Tesla can make it into a pickup truck that can actually dominate segment leaders like the Ford F-150 Raptor in sheer performance. When the Plaid Cybertruck starts deliveries, videos of the vehicle crushing Raptors left and right in on and off-road races will probably be quite common.
Such sights are exactly what the electric car movement needs. While the EV movement has spread in the sedan segment with cars like the Tesla Model 3, and its reach into the SUV market is increasing with vehicles like the Model Y and the Rivian R1S, the pickup market is still dominated by intimidating, gas-guzzling trucks. The Plaid Cybertruck could change all that, provided that Tesla is up to the task.
News
xAI Colossus pollution concerns in Memphis continue
NAACP & SELC push back against xAI Colossus supercomputer. City tests say air is safe — but activists aren’t convinced.

Politicians in Memphis continue to debate about the pollution concerns arising from the xAI Colossus supercomputer.
The NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) have already expressed interest in filing a lawsuit against xAI over concerns related to air pollution stemming from its gas-powered turbines. Environmental groups have now raised concerns about water pollutants.
On Tuesday, Memphis released third-party air quality test results from June 13 and 16. The tests were conducted in downtown Memphis, Whitehaven, and Boxtown, two miles from xAI’s site. The city claimed levels of 10 pollutants tested were safe.
However, SELC–which is representing the NAACP in a potential lawsuit against xAI–criticized the omission of a key pollutant called ozone from the air quality tests. SELC also noted that monitors were placed against buildings, contrary to EPA guidance, stating air sensors should be “at least six feet above ground level, rooftop, or other objects and away from obstructions, vegetation, or emissions sources that would interfere with the measurement.”
Local opposition intensified, with State Representative Justin J. Pearson asserting: “I stand firm that nothing matters if you cannot breathe clean air, drink clean water, and plant in clean soil.”
On Wednesday, concerns shifted to the Memphis aquifer, as the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation held a virtual meeting on xAI’s wastewater facility.
Activist Pamela Moses criticized xAI. “They are not coming here to uplift or invest in our community. They are here to exploit it. This a distressed and a historically neglected area, and instead of bringing opportunity, Colossal is bringing pollution…secrecy and broken promises,” she said.
xAI’s $80 million Grey Water facility aims to mitigate water concerns. The Colossus Water Recycle Facility, a collaboration between the Tennessee Valley Authority and Nucor Steel, aims to alleviate the strain on the aquifer.
“This project is a game changer in terms of it saving about 4.7 billion gallons of water projected, and about 4.7 billion gallons will remain in the aquifer every year,” said Bobby White of the Greater Memphis Chamber.
As xAI’s Memphis supercomputer continues to be the center of debates, the tension between economic benefits and environmental justice remains unresolved. With ongoing scrutiny and potential legal action, xAI’s efforts to address pollution and water concerns will shape its role in Memphis’ future.
News
Tesla Robotaxi’s biggest challenge seems to be this one thing
That big bright thing in the sky might be Tesla’s biggest challenge in terms of Robotaxi.

Tesla Robotaxi launched just a few days ago to a limited number of riders in Austin, Texas, but its biggest challenge seems to be how the automaker will figure out one thing: the Sun.
Among the company’s unique strategies, its emphasis on using cameras for self-driving is perhaps the most interesting. No other company has adopted the same strategy, as others have relied on cameras with either sensors or LiDAR rigs to accomplish their self-driving deployments.
Tesla, on the other hand, has called LiDAR unnecessary. CEO Elon Musk once called it “a fool’s errand,” stating it was not needed to build an effective self-driving fleet of vehicles.
Musk compared cameras to eyes. Humans don’t need sensors or LiDAR to operate vehicles on the road, so why should cars? This brought up some questions, especially regarding sun glare. Musk said that Tesla would use direct photon counting to see directly into brigt sunlight or even in the darkest conditions at night.
His quote during a recent earnings call was:
“Actually, it does not blind the camera. We use an approach which is direct photon count. When you see a processed image, so the image that goes from the sort of photon counter — the silicon photon counter — that then goes through a digital signal processor or image signal processor, that’s normally what happens. And then the image that you see looks all washed out, because if you point the camera at the sun, the post-processing of the photon counting washes things out.”
So far, this strategy has yielded mixed results. We have seen examples of both:
The Good
We’ve had a handful of people state that they have had no issue using the Robotaxi when it is driving into direct sunlight.
There are plenty of examples:
Robotaxi seems to have no trouble driving into the sun. More to come pic.twitter.com/rZdd3Sya8k
— Dirty Tesla (@DirtyTesLa) June 25, 2025
Tons of direct sun glare during many of my Tesla Robotaxi rides today in Austin. The vehicles handled it with no problem. pic.twitter.com/3kyiQF4RMs
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 24, 2025
Absolutely ZERO issues heading into direct sunlight in our Robotaxi, been going for almost an hour now during golden hour/sunset. As smooth as it always is. pic.twitter.com/iSCp6qdNC0
— Zack (@BLKMDL3) June 25, 2025
The Bad
🚗 Day 1 of Robotaxi testing with 20 initial riders! Caught a rare phantom braking moment on camera during our Waymo vs. Tesla Robotaxi race. 🤖 It’s a one-off glitch in Full Self-Driving mode—most rides were smooth! Drop your thoughts! 👀 pic.twitter.com/liJGSIIHKw
— Kim Java (@ItsKimJava) June 24, 2025
The Verdict
This is obviously a weird case, and it seems that this could be one of the challenges Tesla will face with the deployment of Robotaxi.
While it will get figured out, this is something that could ultimately push back Tesla’s goal of having no safety monitor in the vehicles. However, the instance will be learned and used to improve in the future through its Neural Nets.
The first intervention was captured yesterday, requiring the Tesla safety monitor to stop the vehicle manually on the car’s touchscreen.
News
Tesla owners take stand as Stockholm insists on blocking FSD tests
Despite the Tesla owners’ efforts, city officials appear unwilling to budge.

Tesla owners in Sweden are taking it upon themselves to lobby for the approval of FSD-style tests in the City of Stockholm. The owners’ efforts come amidst city officials’ continued refusal to allow Tesla to test its autonomous driving system in the capital.
In open letters and social media posts, Tesla owners have urged Stockholm to reconsider its stance, pointing to broader support for FSD trials across Europe. But despite their efforts, city officials appear unwilling to budge, reinforcing the capital’s hardline stance on the Elon Musk-led EV maker.
Public support shows brand loyalty
A group of Swedish Tesla owners recently sent an open letter to Stockholm leaders. Among them is Alexander Kristensen, who has written a letter to officials urging them to allow Tesla to test FSD in the region.
“Members of the Traffic Committee are politically appointed by the Stockholm City Council, whose mandate is determined by the popular vote. Your stance—continuing to block a conditional pilot of FSD— is thus a political decision and fully subject to the electorate’s judgment in the next municipal election.
“When the City prevents tests that could validate and refine the technology locally, it is perceived as hampering life-saving innovation,” the Tesla owners wrote.
The Swedish Transport Administration issued a response, acknowledging the Tesla owners’ feedback. The Transport Administration noted that it could proceed to grant a permit for Tesla to test FSD, but the company would still have to secure approval from local governments where the FSD-style tests will be conducted.
Stockholm remains firm
Despite this, Stockholm doubled down shortly after, stating that Tesla’s FSD software remains prohibited on city roads.
“Thank you for your comments and for taking an interest in traffic issues concerning the City of Stockholm. As previously stated, the City’s assessment of the current application remains unchanged and our position is set out in the opinion,” the City of Stockhom wrote.
In light of the city’s response, some Tesla owners have vowed to campaign against current officials in the next election.
The push for FSD testing comes as Tesla faces ongoing challenges in Sweden, including a labor dispute with unions over collective bargaining agreements. Since late 2023, the conflict has resulted in strikes, blockades, and legal battles, none of which appear close to resolution. Despite regulatory and labor headwinds, Tesla continues to expand in the region, including the recent installation of Superchargers in union-backed areas.
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