With the first Tesla Semi deliveries, the trucking world is now changed forever. “It looks like an elephant moving like a cheetah. It doesn’t look right frankly.”- Musk’s comment on the Tesla Semi Truck’s insane acceleration.
Tesla launched the first of its semi-electric trucks after many years of anticipation. The company gave Pepsi the keys to the first production vehicle in the lineup during a “Semi Delivery Event” held on December 1, in Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory in the United States. The executives of PepsiCo were elated to receive the key card from Tesla.
The concept of trucks was initially unveiled in 2017, and they were meant to go into production in 2019 but were pushed back due to many factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a global shortage of battery cells. The beverage manufacturer had placed an order for 100 Semis for its US fleets, but due to production delays, they are now beginning to get the first units in 2022. Pepsi intends to deploy 15 of those trucks in a project to make its Frito-Lay Modesto, California, factory zero-emission.
What went down at the Tesla Semi truck delivery event
The event was held on the trailer bed of a Tesla Semi.
Prior to the ceremony, guests were given the opportunity to see the Tesla Semi assembly line. Musk mentioned that Tesla is creating a wide range of automobiles in order to achieve its primary goal: to usher in the age of sustainable energy. He emphasized the importance of Tesla Semi manufacturing to the company’s objectives. In the United States, Class 8 trucks account for just 1% of all vehicles, but they produce roughly 36% of all vehicle particulate emissions and 20% of all vehicle emissions in the country.
According to Musk, Semi trucks would not only reduce transport emissions, but “It’s also quiet, will improve the quality of your air, and will improve the health of people living near freeways.”
Representatives from Pepsi commended Tesla and the Semi team in particular for their dedication. Snacks were provided for everyone at the event by Pepsi, which was a surprise for the attendees. Of course, the Tesla Semi brought the snacks.
You can watch the Tesla Semi Delivery Event on YouTube.
All that you need to know about Tesla Semi truck
Compared to comparable diesel trucks on the road, the Tesla Semi has three times the power. CEO Elon Musk said, “At Tesla, we don’t make slow cars. This thing has crazy power relative to a diesel truck.” It features Tesla’s ground-breaking heat pump technology, infotainment system, and 1000-volt powertrain. In essence, the Semi is utilizing the Plaid’s drivetrain. It has a tri-motor powertrain, which provides a comfortable driving experience during both acceleration and deceleration.
Truck driving is safer and more effective thanks to regenerative braking and the Semi’s traction control. The Semi is more aerodynamic because of its bullet-like form.
The driver was also taken into consideration when designing the Tesla Semi truck. There is ample room, adequate cargo space, a wireless charging station for their phones, and connectors for their cables.
The Semi has been put to the test for durability in all types of weather by the manufacturer. Each truck has a 1MW (Megawatt-hour) battery pack, and the vehicles are speedy, and capable of going from zero to sixty in 20 seconds while fully loaded. They can pull up to 80,000 pounds (36,250 kilograms) and recharge batteries up to 80% in 30 minutes. In order to charge the Semi and the Cybertruck, Tesla also created an MW charger. The Supercharger Network will soon receive the MW charger.
Difference between Tesla’s Semi and other heavy-duty trucks
The positioning of the steering wheel and driver’s seat is one of the critical distinctions between Tesla’s Class 8 electric truck and other heavy-duty trucks. Tesla built the Semi with the steering wheel in the center of the cab and touchscreens placed on both sides of the driver instead of utilizing the left side (or right side in Europe).
The single-charge drive of 500 miles
Elon Musk announced a few days ago on Twitter that the 81,000-pound fully loaded Tesla Semi had successfully completed a 500-mile journey. The announcement drew a lot of interest, but it also sparked some online discussions on whether the Class 8 all-electric truck could pull off the feat on a single charge.
The electric vehicle manufacturer underlined the fact that the ground-breaking trip was really finished with a single charge at the Tesla Semi’s first delivery event for PepsiCo. Tesla CEO Elon Musk committed to posting the complete journey footage on social media. But for now, Tesla published a time-lapse (you can watch it in the tweet below) of the arduous journey from Fremont, California, to San Diego, California.
However, Oliver Dixon, a senior analyst at consultancy Guidehouse remarked, “Not very impressive – moving a cargo of chips (average weight per pack 52 grams) cannot in any way be said to be definitive proof of concept.”
No information regarding pricing and production
Tesla stated in 2017 that the 300-mile range version of the Semi would cost $150,000 and the 500-mile version would cost $180,000, but Tesla’s passenger electric car pricing has risen dramatically since then. Other corporations that had reserved the Semi included Anheuser-Busch (ABI.BR), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N), and Walmart Inc (WMT.N). Tesla did not offer information on customer orders or deliveries, nor did it provide an estimate of the total cost of ownership for potential consumers compared to diesel alternatives.
At the presentation on Thursday, Musk declared, “If you’re a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it.” Tesla claims that it will utilize the new electric Semi truck for its own activities between suppliers and factories when more Semis are produced. So far, so good, but we’d like to know how much the truck is going to weigh with the undisclosed batteries. Furthermore, the price may influence how closely Tesla sticks to its production targets.
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