It's finally here, Tesla's biggest electric offering yet, the all-electric semi truck has been unveiled and quite aptly called 'Tesla Semi. The newest hauler is a mid-size transport vehicle and gets all the bells and whistles you would expect from a semi-truck, while packing in the autonomous driving technology too. So, yes, the Tesla Semi will be able to drive itself, on the highways at least. The new Tesla Semi has been designed aesthetically and gives you a distinct look. It's modern, futuristic and certainly packs in the right levels of flowing lines to look suave, for a truck of course. It's unlike anything you will see in a similar segment, and Tesla gets complete points for standing out in design.
(The Tesla Semi Truck has maximum load up to 40 tonnes)
While the official specs will be out closer to production, Tesla says that the Semi will go from 0-100 kmph in 5 seconds. With its maximum load of up to 40 tonnes, the electric truck can go from 0-100 kmph in 20 seconds. Speeds can reach up to 104 kmph, which is more than what the diesel trucks achieve, while the battery range is around just above 800 km at highway speeds. The truck can be charged via the superchargers within in 30 minutes, which is the time you would need to load and un-load the material. By the end of it, the truck will be ready to go for another trip.
Tesla says the Semi will be able to do more number of trips than a diesel truck in its life span. The Tesla Semi truck also has a better drag coefficient thanks to its extremely aerodynamic design. The Semi also comes with regenerative braking for improved brake life, while there is no need to shift gears on this truck, which should make it convenient for drivers.
(Almost all options are controlled via the touchscreen unit on the Tesla Semi Truck)
Furthermore, Tesla says that a lot of components on the Semi have been shared with the Model 3, to achieve higher economies of scale. A tonne of these components can be seen in the cabin, which has been designed keeping in mind the driver's needs. The cabin is tall enough for the driver to fully stand, while the driving position is also slightly centred. There are a host of touchscreen systems as well on either side of the driver and offer everything from navigation, blind spot monitoring to trip data logging. Tesla says there will be a host of fleet management tools and routing tools, which will be made available on the Semi, and are otherwise seen on cars.
(There's autonomous driving technology on the Tesla Semi truck)
The Tesla Semi is big on safety too and comes with a reinforced battery to keep it from exploding or catching fire in the event of a crash. There is reinforced windshield glass that shouldn't chip or crack. Tesla's onboard sensors will also provide adequate power to the wheels, in case of jackknifing. Tesla has also built Enhanced Autopilot features into its Semi that offers automated emergency braking, lane keeping and lane departure warnings for safe highway driving.
Tesla says production for the new Semi should commence by 2019 in the US. The company's latest offering will lock horns with the electric trucks from Daimler while a few other players could crop up by then in this space.
