Tesla starts production of its electric truck. The US manufacturer plans to deliver the first units of the Tesla Semi to customers in the US in December.
The Tesla Semi is an all-electric truck introduced by Tesla in 2017. The US company was an early player in the electric truck market at the time. Meanwhile, a variety of other manufacturers have also announced electric trucks. These include DAF, Scania and Volvo.
PepsiCo receives first unit
PepsiCo, the manufacturer of Pepsi and Lay's, among others, receives the first copy of the Tesla Semi reports Tesla chief Elon Musk. In total, PepsiCo ordered a hundred Tesla Semis. The company plans to put the first 15 of these into service this year.
The Tesla Semi is available in two versions: one with 475 km range and one with 800 km range. Energy consumption per km is less than 1.25 kW at full load, according to the US manufacturer. The truck then has a gross combined weight of 37,000 kg. The batteries can be recharged at Tesla's Semi Chargers. These allow the batteries to be charged to 70 per cent capacity in 30 minutes.
Three motors on the rear axles
According to its maker, the Tesla Semi accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 25 seconds with a full load. In addition, Tesla reports that the vehicle can hold highway speeds, even on steep inclines. The vehicle uses three independent motors mounted on the two rear axles for this purpose.
Tesla will supply the electric truck with various safety features. These include advanced engine and braking controls that improve traction and stability in all conditions. In addition, the driver sits in the centre of the vehicle, which Tesla says improves visibility. The design reduces the risk of overturning as well as deformation of the cabin in an accident.
Low cost of ownership
For owners, the Tesla Semi is attractive partly because of its low cost of ownership, according to the manufacturer. According to Tesla, these costs are low because the vehicles spend less time in the garage. This thanks in part to remote diagnostics, which means the vehicle only receives maintenance that is actually needed. However, also consider wireless software updates and the presence of fewer moving parts compared to a traditional truck.
The Tesla Semi is also coming to the Netherlands. Initially, this will be the version with a range of 800 km. It should cost around 150,000 euros in the Netherlands. At a later stage, the 475 km range version will be added. This is expected to get a price tag of 130,000 euros.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Tesla Inc.
