The Tesla Semi Is Ready To Roll

The Tesla Semi is about to beat the Tesla Roadster in a race.The electric big rig and 250 mph supercar were unveiled as concepts on the same day in 2017, but while Roadster production continues to be delayed until at least 2027, Tesla is finally putting the Semi on sale this year.It has been a long road for the long hauler, but after successful pilot tests with several fleet operators, including PepsiCo and DHL, and a restyling, the Semi is ready for prime time.Tesla is offering it in two models. There’s a Standard Range version that can go 325 miles between charges and a Long Range sleeper cab rated for 500 miles. Both are more than two thousand pounds heavier than their diesel equivalents, but federal regulations passed during President Trump’s first administration in 2019 increased the maximum weight limit for electric and natural gas tractor-trailers from 80,000 pounds to 82,000 pounds to offset the difference and keep them competitive as cargo carriers. Tesla’s range projections account for fully laden trailers.The Semi and Roadster concepts were first unveiled in 2017. TeslaOther truck manufacturers sell electric tractors, but none offer the same range that Tesla promises, and they often come at much higher prices. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, the median price for an electric tractor is more than $400,000, while the 500-mile Semi is less than $300,000 and diesel trucks are less than $200,000.Part of Tesla’s pitch is that some Semi owners can recoup the upfront premium quickly. Right now, it estimates that the Semi’s operational costs will be 50% less than a diesel truck’s in California and an average of 20% less nationwide. Semis used for longer routes could potentially cover the $100,000 gap in less than three years.The Semi was also designed to be more appealing to drive. It has a central seating position and large windshield that accommodate a more aerodynamically efficient body and provide a better view of the road.Large touchscreens on either side of the steering are equipped with information, productivity and entertainment features, and the cabin is tall enough for the driver to stand up inside. It is also far quieter than any internal combustion engine truck and Tesla claims its battery will last one million miles.The Semi features a central driver’s seat. TeslaThree electric motors power two axles, with one geared for acceleration and the other for highway cruising. The truck is capable of ascending steep grades without slowing down and can use the electric motors to brake during descents, recovering energy to charge the batteries.The Semi can also be charged with a plug, of course, and quite rapidly. Tesla hasn’t announced the exact capacities of the Semi’s batteries, but it has designed a Megacharger that operates at 1.2 megawatts and can fill them to approximately 60% in 30 minutes. That is sufficient for 195 miles in the Standard Range model and 300 miles in the Long Range model. Tesla can install them at a fleet operator’s depot and has reached an agreement to deploy them at Pilot truck stops across the country, where Semi drivers can grab a shower and pick up some snacks while they wait, just like their diesel-buying counterparts.Comedian and famed car collector Jay Leno was the first person outside of Tesla and its test partners to have the opportunity to take a Semi for a drive, which he featured in a video on his “Jay Leno’s Garage” YouTube program. Mr. Leno described the truck as “so incredibly easy to drive” and remarked on its ability to make turns as tightly as a Tesla Model Y compact SUV, thanks to its independent front suspension.Tesla is building the Semi adjacent to the battery production line at its Gigafactory in the coincidentally-named Sparks, Nev. It will have the capacity to manufacture 50,000 annually for the U.S. market, which accounts for more than 200,000 tractor sales a year, but not initially.The Semi is approved to tow up to the federal maximum of 82,000 pounds. TeslaTesla CEO Elon Musk said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call that initial production “will be very slow, but then ramping up, and going exponential towards the end of the year and certainly next year.”

The Tesla Semi Is Ready To Roll

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