The first batch of semi-trucks has been delivered to customers at the company's Gigafactory. Located in Sparks, Nevada, the event occurred on Thursday. The long-hauler trucks should've gone into production back in 2019, but due to the pandemic and a shortage of necessary parts, the release was pushed back and took three more years.
The Trucks of the Future
The Tesla semi-trucks are powered by four independent motors on their rear axles. It is capable of going from zero to 60 mph in just 20 seconds, and the batteries can last up to 500 miles. The estimated price for the released EVs can go up to $150,000 each. The price did not deter certain companies from ordering them.
PepsiCo has already reserved 100 semi-trucks as was revealed and was one of the first companies to receive them in the first batch. Among the companies looking to go electric as well are Walmart and FedEx, although they had a lower number of orders compared to PepsiCo.
Musk expressed that we need to reduce carbon emissions produced by shipments globally and commented that the trucks look sick (positively, of course). He then called the vehicle a beast and remarked that it looked like it came from the future, which in design, it does. He explained the features of the truck to emphasize its efficiency.
The Tesla CEO noted that the semis would feature a 1,000-volt powertrain architecture, which would also be seen in future projects of Tesla. It also has traction control for the prevention of jackknifing, regenerative braking for battery efficiency, and an automatic clutch for better highway driving, as mentioned in The Verge.
Is the World Ready for Electric Semi-Trucks?
Musk already tested the semis by completing a 500-mile trip, carrying 81,000 pounds of cargo. He noted that the truck went from Fremont, California, to San Diego all without having to recharge. The tech billionaire said that the trucks would be expensive to buy but would be cheaper to use and maintain.
Since there will be fewer components that might need maintenance, like engines, transmissions, or drive shafts, it will cost less in the long run. He also estimated the cost of driving a diesel truck, which will be $1.51 a mile. Compared to an electric truck, it will only cost $1.26 per mile, as mentioned in New York Times. It could also have an autopilot feature which could be beneficial for long highway drives.
There is the issue of charging, though, more specifically the availability of it. Charging stations for Teslas are not yet widely available for electric vehicles. Truck stops may not have the power that charging a semi-truck might need. Even Bill Gates said that electricity works but only to cover short distances.
Musk addressed the issue by introducing a new liquid-cooled charger, which can deliver a current power of one megawatt. He noted that it would also be featured by the Cybertruck. The Tesla CEO also stated the need to uncouple the Superchargers from the grid, which allows for delivering power even in a power outage.
