JANUARY 2018 | MANE AUTOMOTIVE, F1 & MOTORSPORT | 11
And this is the
Tesla Semi
nveiled alongside the Roadster was the Telsa Semi, which the event centred around. The Tesla
Semi is an electric semi-truck aiming to be the safest truck ever. The semi has the quickest acceleration—from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds, fully loaded (36 tonnes). Four independent motors provide maximum power and acceleration and require the lowest energy cost per mile. The semi has a built-in enhanced autopilot which helps avoid collisions including automatic emergency braking and lane keeping, as well as forward collision warning. On top of this, the truck will also be equipped with a system to prevent jackknifing. A centred driver position provides maximum visibility and control, and a low center of gravity offers rollover protection.
Electric energy costs are half those of diesel. With fewer systems to maintain, the Tesla Semi provides
$200,000+ (USD) in fuel
savings and a two year
payback period. The
electric vehicle specialist claims it will be cheaper to run from day one than comparable diesel trucks.
Though production isn’t slated to begin until 2019, a number of companies have already put in orders for the Tesla Semi. Shortly after the event, Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, said it had preordered 15 of the electric automaker’s new semi trucks. The pilot is planned for the US and Canada. Five of the preordered vehicles will be for Walmart’s US business, and 10 will be for its Canadian routes. Meanwhile snack and beverage producer PepsiCo has ordered 100 of the trucks and Anheuser-Busch announced it had placed an order for 40 Tesla Semis with a goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025. And at the end of December UPS reserved 125 Tesla semi-trucks - the largest public pre-order yet. ■
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