Image: Tesla
Elon Musk announces the start of mass production of the long-awaited Tesla Semi Truck, which will change the industry. He said the first trucks would be delivered to Pepsi on December 1.
The first Tesla Semi prototype was unveiled almost five years ago. The start of production was delayed several times due to a lack of battery cells to start mass production and a lack of location for production capacity. However, in 2020, Tesla stepped up efforts and started hiring for the truck’s production and has identified Nevada as the location for its initial production. In August 2022, it became known that the first Semi would be delivered before the end of the year.
Now even more joyful and more concrete news has followed. Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that production of Semi has already begun. According to him, the first vehicles should be delivered to the giant, Pepsi, on December 1. He also revealed that production will start with the 500-mile version.
500 mile range & super fun to drive
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022
On the manufacturer's website, Tesla Semi is described as “more powerful, more efficient” and this reflects the reality as its performance is impressive. The company, as before, offers two versions with different ranges: 300 miles and 500 miles. It is noteworthy that the range is indicated for trucks when fully loaded, which is an extremely important indicator. The gross weight of Tesla Semi with a fully loaded trailer is 82,000 pounds. In turn, the range of an unloaded Semi is sure to be incredibly impressive.
The exact battery capacity has not been disclosed, but the energy consumption per mile will be less than 2 kWh. With this figure, it can be assumed that the battery capacity will be around 600 kWh and 1000 kWh depending on the version.
With a full load, Tesla Semi will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds. In addition, the truck will be able to reach the speed limit on highways with a 5% grade. These characteristics are extremely important for driving on the roads, as they allow trucks to safely and quickly overtake without blocking traffic, and reduce the likelihood of accidents. To make this possible, three independent motors provide instant torque and unmatched power at any speed.
Semi comes standard with active safety features that pair with advanced motor and brake controls to deliver traction and stability in all conditions. A central seating position gives the driver better visibility, while an all-electric architecture reduces both rollover risk and cabin intrusion in case of an accident.
Tesla said that up to 70% of the range can be recharged in 30 minutes using Tesla's Semi Chargers (Megacharger).
One of the most notable benefits of Tesla Semi is its savings on fuel costs. The manufacturer said the electric truck is expected to save up to $200,000 over its first three years of ownership compared to a diesel competitor.
“Charging with electricity is approximately 2.5 times cheaper per mile than refueling with diesel.* Operators can see estimated fuel savings of up to $200,000 within their first three years of ownership. With remote diagnostics, over-the-air software updates and fewer moving parts to maintain, operators will spend less time at service centers and more time on the road.”
© 2022, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.
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Article edited by @SmokeyShorts; follow him on Twitter
About the Author
Eva Fox
Eva Fox joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover breaking news as an automotive journalist. The main topics that she covers are clean energy and electric vehicles. As a journalist, Eva is specialized in Tesla and topics related to the work and development of the company.
