What we know about Tesla’s Semi truck as production nears
Musk says “high-volume production” will start this year. Wall Street thinks that’s more like 5,000 to 15,000 trucks.
Tesla’s long-awaited Semi trucks are back in the spotlight. The Wall Street Journal reports that truck drivers testing prototype models are enthusiastic — and the rest of us may not have to wait much longer. The company is expected to begin producing and shipping the electric freight trucks, which feature driver-assistance technology, from its northern Nevada factory this summer.
Here’s what we know:
How many
CEO Elon Musk said last month that the Semi would enter “high-volume production this year.” The Journal, citing Tigress Financial Partners, estimates Tesla could produce between 5,000 and 15,000 trucks in 2026, eventually ramping up to 50,000 annually.
That’s a long delay from the truck’s 2017 unveiling, when production was originally slated for 2019.
The Journal also reports that trucking companies have secured $195 million in grants for 1,002 Semis through a California nonprofit that funds zero-emissions trucks. That’s roughly double the number of zero-emissions big rigs currently operating in Southern California.
How much
The Journal, citing people familiar with orders, reports that the trucks cost under $300,000, or about twice as much as a regular diesel truck.
Tesla hasn’t confirmed pricing, but it has consistently argued the Semi will be cheaper to operate per mile. In 2017, Musk said operating costs would be $1.26 per mile versus $1.51 for diesel trucks. More recently, he has framed it more broadly, saying it will be “better than a diesel truck.”
How far
The Semi comes in two versions: one with a 325-mile range and another with a 500-mile range, or about double that of some competing electric big rigs.
Tesla says the battery can charge to 60% in 30 minutes. That’s fast for an EV, but still slower than refueling a diesel truck.
A fully loaded Semi can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 20 seconds. One driver told the Journal he was able to haul a 25,000-pound load up a mountain pass with ease.
