Despite its gullwing rear doors and impressive performance, the Tesla Model X was not flashy enough for an owner in Utah, who opted to cover the entire bodywork in nickels. The shiny coins create an unconventional wrap that is hard to ignore on the streets, adding weight and value to the fully electric SUV.
The nickel-covered Tesla was spotted in Utah, and went viral on Reddit by user Pacexmaker. Thankfully the collective mind of the Internet gave us all the answers we need. Reddit user Machidalgo was kind enough to do the math for us, calculating the number of nickels and the added weight to the EV. According to his estimates, the Model X needs around 63 square feet of vinyl wrap to cover its bodywork, which translates to anywhere between 14,112-14,238 nickels.
Read: Why Is This Mazda CX-30 Wearing A Tesla Face, Wheels, And Taillights?
After tallying the weight of the coins and the glue or epoxy required to secure them, the user calculated that the additional weight of the nickel coating amounts to approximately 160-165 pounds (72.6 – 74.8 kg). This indicates that the nickel-covered Model X weighs as much as a standard Model X carrying an additional passenger. According to EPA estimates, the extra weight alone may result in a decrease in driving range of 1.6-3.3% or 5.6-11.5 miles (9-19 km) for a Tesla Model X Long Range, in addition to any further reduction due to the vehicle’s worse aerodynamics.
We have to admit that the numbers are not as bad as we expected, and probably a fair price to pay for getting that much extra attention on the road if that’s your target. As for the cost, the nickels alone would be equivalent to around $710 which is cheaper than your average vinyl wrap. We will wrap this up with a dark joke from Reddit user dangerkali who said that if this Tesla crashes it’s going to sound like Sonic the Hedgehog just died. Hopefully, that will never happen as people tend to pay more attention to shiny objects.
