Survey Sunday: will Cybercab transform mobility, or be just another car?

This is Tesla and robotaxi news, not a home energy story, so there's not much here for homeowners planning efficiency upgrades. Still, a quick summary: Tesla recently showed off its Cybercab, a self-driving taxi without a steering wheel, at an event in Austin, Texas, where select influencers took rides with mixed results. A reader poll on the news site Electrek drew nearly 2,700 responses, and most were skeptical. About two-thirds picked the most pessimistic option, saying the Cybercab won't even count as "just another car" if no one can legally drive it and Tesla hasn't shown its self-driving software actually works.

The skepticism followed a rough stretch of news for Tesla. Federal safety regulators opened an investigation into the Cybercab. Tesla's own data reportedly showed its driver-assist system was active during two fatal crashes, one involving a motorcyclist and one involving a mother of five. The company also settled a separate lawsuit over a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system and a fire truck, avoiding a jury trial. Commenters also pointed out that Tesla had previously promised owners could earn money by renting out their own cars as robotaxis, an idea that seems to have quietly faded as Tesla builds its own fleet instead.

None of this involves home energy programs, rebates, or upgrades. It's simply a snapshot of public opinion on Tesla's robotaxi ambitions and the safety questions still surrounding the technology.