The Tesla Semi is about to embark on its first delivery.
Elon Musk shared a photo today showing two of the electric big rigs side-by-side in the Gigafactory parking lot in Nevada, gearing up for their first production cargo trip.
The black and silver trucks are towing battery packs to the firm’s California factory.
It comes just weeks after one of the prototype Semis was spotted on the street in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The move marks a major milestone toward the eventual release of the highly anticipated electric truck.
‘First production cargo trip of the Tesla Semi heavy duty truck, carrying battery packs from the Gigafactory in the Nevada mountains to the car factor in California,’ Musk wrote alongside the photo.
The Tesla Semi is said to be capable of traveling 500 miles on a charge when moving at highway speed with its maximum weight load, 80,000 pounds.
Diesel trucks, on the other hand, can go about 1,000 miles on a tank of fuel.
It can hit 60 miles per hour in five seconds without cargo, and 20 seconds towing a full load.
Musk first unveiled the electric Semi at an event last November, during which he rode one into an airport hangar outside of Los Angeles.
They’re expected to roll out next year – but already, there have been several major orders, including PepsiCo, UPS, and Budweiser-maker Anheuser-Busch.
A video of the big rigs stirred fresh excitement last month over the all-electric truck.
The rare glimpse of the prototype was captured by YouTube user Richard Fielder in the Bay Area where Tesla Semis are being tested.
The clip shows just how quickly the massive electric vehicle can accelerate.
So far, only those in the San Francisco area have a chance at getting a sneak peak at the vehicle.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5475001/Elon-Musk-shares-photo-Tesla-Semis-Gigafactory-parking-lot.html#ixzz597R2EJUv
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Thinking about getting yourself an electric rig, Mark?
It’s a flash in the pan. Stick with your diesel.
They just don’t have the range, I need 650 a pop, and a guarantee of no battery drain on big grades. And sitting forever recharging batteries, what about sitting while stuck in heavy snow, or stuck having to run heating, air conditioning for 10 hours while sitting??????
My truck runs practically 24/7. Hardly ever shuts off, in 195,000 miles, shut off maybe 20 30 times. Elon Musk doesn’t get it. This is my house…..
These electric motors in prolonged heavy snow and ice? Eh, no thanks. And these electric motors have huge torque, dangerous in snow, he keeps bragging about big acceleration, this means big time tire wear, big bucks, we pay 9 grand (tractor and trailer)a year on tires now, that could easily double. More down time, more bullshit, waaaay too many questions.
Living where I do, I too wonder how good a heaters they have. It gets cold around here.
I hear ya. As usual, it’s a nice gadget, but just not practical for the real world of hauling goods quickly in all conditions.
No need for a heater if no driver… Lol
There will always be a driver manager in these trucks, it’s a myth to think otherwise. Light years away from complete autonomous trucks. Waaaaay too much going on logistically, morally, not too mention the asshole 4 wheelers out there that deserve a middle finger once in a while.
There will always be a driver manager inside these trucks, if for no other reason, to make sure things stay safe.
I think you’re right, Mark. They may use a lot of automation to make the driver’s job easier, but they need a human there when the technology breaks down, or doesn’t work as expected….. and everything that’s computerized has a history of doing exactly that.
I never saw it as a reliable technology.