According to a news posted on November 17, 2017, Tesla announced its latest creation: An electric semi-truck. The electric semi-truck is able to withstand a nuclear explosion and go from 0 to 60 mph in five seconds. Elon Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla, said that a diesel truck would be 20 cents more expensive per mile than the semi-truck, and majority of diesel truck routes are less than 250 miles. However, the electric semi-truck can travel 500 miles on a single charge, and Musk guaranteed that it will not break down for 1 million miles (The Washington Post).
Also, Musk constantly emphasized that the truck produce zero emissions, which is very important to environment. According to "Technology up Date and New Strategies on Fuel Cells,” gas emission from transports occupies 17% of the yearly total global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, a report from Scientific American shows that 5.13 million people lost workdays, and 26.3 million people have restricted activity days because of the air pollution from fossil-fuel cars. Thus, Tesla always concerns about not only greater safety and lower fuel costs but also cleaner energy.
Now, the company just reveals pricing: $150,000 for 300-mile range, and $180,000 for 500-mile range. According to The Verge, the 500-mile range could replace 80% of the market, which requires truck transportation to travel 250 miles or above. Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailers, has just ordered five Tesla trucks in Walmart U.S. and 10 in Walmart Canada as a test. The Tesla electric semi-truck will available for purchase in 2019.
So, what do you think of the Tesla’s electric semi-truck? How is the performance? How are the prices? Will the truck be mainstream in the future? Feel free to write comments below! Thank you!
I think it will be a game changer. The long haul drivers will scoff, but there is nothing to add a trailer with its own motors and battery packs to increase miles. Imagine a semi with 4, 6, or 8 drive axles and motors with even 200 hp each. Especially when the entire trailer just begs for solar panels to supplement power. Imagine the deliver time saved climbing steep hills at highway speeds and all wheel drive traction in rain and snow…