Nearly a Decade Later, the Electric Tesla Semi Is Here
A Nevada event aimed at a niche audience of fleet managers could mark a milestone in clean transportation.
Nearly a decade after its initial unveiling, Tesla has finally launched the production of its electric Semi truck. At a recent livestreamed event at the company's factory, high-volume production began, targeting cost-conscious truck fleet managers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk described the Semi as "a driver's truck, like a sports car in truck form."
The long-range version is expected to travel 500 miles per charge, while the standard version will cover approximately 325 miles per charge, both claims matching the average daily distance covered by US long-haul truckers. Competitors' EVs offer ranges between 155 to 430 miles.
Despite being competitive in China where electric semis account for nearly 30% of heavy-duty truck sales, the Semi has faced a slow start in the US. This is mainly due to the higher upfront cost and the requirement for a nationwide network of specialized megawatt chargers. Tesla currently operates two public chargers in the LA area, but plans to open 30 by year-end.
However, external factors like high US diesel prices and the Trump administration's cutting of federal support for electric vehicles, along with plans to lower fuel economy standards, have made the Tesla Semi a more economically viable option. Notably, an alliance of shippers, including Microsoft and PepsiCo, has placed a record-setting order for 2,500 Tesla Semis.
This substantial demand from big companies could drive down the prices of the new trucks and lead to increased adoption of electric trucks on US roads. The Full Self-Driving feature is not available on the Semi yet, but Musk hinted at its imminent debut.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
