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Here’s What We Actually Know About The Tesla Semi.
On November 16th, 2017, Tesla officially launched the heavy-duty Semi, an all-electric, semi-autonomous truck. First announced in CEO Elon Musk’s ‘Master Plan Part Deux, the Tesla Semi was not only set to improve logistics safety but also to boost efficiency. It was also a new way to reduce all the ridiculously high costs of owning a gas-powered truck, as well as emissions. Shortly afterward, the Tesla Semi was pre-ordered by the big names in the logistics business, like Walmart, DHL, Anheuser-Busch, and J.B. Hunt.
The Tesla Semi out-trucks all the traditional trucks, with a smart design, cargo-hauling capacity, large powertrain, and jaw-dropping performance numbers. It comes with amazing features, like the upgraded Automatic Tire Inflation System, thermonuclear explosion-proof glass, better aerodynamics, and an enhanced traction control system that prevents jackknifing, among many more.
Since its initial reveal, the Tesla Semi has been in the works for about half a decade now, even though some forecasters predicted that it would remain so for twice as long. However, the wait is now over, as the electric-propelled truck will be hitting the commercial transport sector soon.
We’ll discuss everything we know so far about the impending Tesla truck.
The Tesla Semi Has An Outrageously Aerodynamic Character
The Tesla Semi has the most beautiful design we’ve ever seen on a truck, with stunning front fascia and a clean, uncluttered cab construction, which add a unique identity to the electric truck. With its design, the Semi unarguably looks like something straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. One of the first things you’ll probably look at is the front end, which, unlike the traditional gas-powered trucks that have massive grilles to maximize airflow to the robust engines, has a blanked-off nose, with a pointy shape that maximizes airflow around the truck. Under the nose is a small, and uniquely-designed air intake that lets air in to cool the high-capacity battery, which is positioned in the center of the front and rear axles.
Designed like a bullet, the Tesla Semi is incredibly aerodynamic, which not only makes it quicker on the highway but also helps the truck achieve long driving ranges, which, for a commercial truck, is vital. According to the brand, the truck has a drag coefficient of 0.36, which, as fantastic as it already sounds, is better than the Bugatti Chiron’s 0.38 drag coefficient. For added aerodynamics, the Tesla substitutes the door mirrors for cameras positioned at the extreme rear, which then transmit the feed to the cabin screens. Also, the large glass is explosion-proof.
The front fascia also features a massive wraparound glass area that slopes into the frontal storage area, with some glass extending to the doors. Another feature that’s noteworthy of the Tesla Semi is the 6×4 tractor layout, with one axle on the front and two axles at the rear end. The truck’s tires could come with an improved Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS).
The Interior Of The Tesla Semi And Its Features
Complementing the Semi’s unique and attractive exterior is an equally-graceful cabin. Unlike other trucks, the Semi’s driver seat is positioned in the center of the cabin, which, according to Tesla, gives the driver maximum visibility out of the windshield. To carry extra passengers, the Semi comes with two foldable seats behind the driver seat.
On the tech side, the interior features two massive touchscreens. Situated on both ends of the neatly-designed dashboard, the infotainment system screens not only come with Tesla’s brilliant UI but also the regular usual suite of connectivity that you’d find on the brand’s road cars.
Expect the Semi to come with the standard ‘Enhanced Autopilot’ suite, which comprises safety and driver assist features, such as automatic lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. On top of that, if the Semi senses no driver input, it comes to a slow stop and automatically calls an emergency number.
The Tesla Semi: Powertrain, Charging, And Performance
Tesla originally planned to launch the Semi with a quad-motor powertrain. But, a revision on the official website specified that the brand will offer the tri-motor versions at launch and the quad-motor powertrain will be optional once production ramps up. But the Semi will be available in two trims, one delivering 300 miles of range and the other providing up to 500 miles. The Tesla Semi’s powertrain will consist of the same motors that propel the brand’s Model 3, each producing a peak output of 258 horses.
Performance-wise, the gap between the Tesla Semi and gas-powered trucks is wide. For starters, the Semi quad-motor could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just around 5 seconds without payload – something that would take a regular diesel truck 10 seconds more, according to the brand’s presentation. With an 82,000-pound hauling duty, the Semi tri-motor could achieve the 60-mph sprint in 20 seconds. The quad-motor could potentially sprint faster. But, both tri-motor and quad-motor versions can drive at highway speeds up a 5 percent gradient. Also, the Tesla Semi will consume less than 2 kWh per mile.
With the Semi’s theoretically large battery, Tesla introduced the Megacharger in 2020. We’re unsure how far the brand has developed this charging technology since then. What we do know is that the Semi will use 4680 cells, a new type of cell developed by Panasonic. Utilizing a fast-charging station, it should take 30 minutes to charge the Semi tri-motor to 70 percent, giving the driver some time to relax before trucking on to the destination.
The Tesla Semi’s Pricing And Release Date
As we mentioned earlier, Tesla originally planned to offer the Semi with a quad-motor powertrain. With that, the brand set its initial prices at $150,000 for the base model with the 300-mile driving range and up to $150,000 for the longer 500-mile range version. The base reservation price was around $20,000, but reservations for the Tesla Semi were paused a while ago. But, with the introduced tri-motor powertrain, the Tesla Semi could cost considerably less.
During the 2017 premiere, Elon Musk stated that the Semi would enter its production phase in 2019. But the brand couldn’t meet the scheduled SOP timeline, and with the pandemic and the shortage of the semiconductor chip the following year, Semi production was delayed. And due to the limited availability of battery cells in 2021, production was postponed to 2022. But in a recent tweet by Musk earlier this month on August 10, 2022, he confirmed that sales of the 500-mile variant Tesla Semi will begin in the last quarter of 2022, followed by the less expensive 300-mile variant in 2023.
‘News of the Day’ content, as reported by public domain newswires.
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