Tesla’s Game Changing Class 8 All-Electric Semi Reveal

500-miles range, 0 to 60 in 20 sec. at 80k lb GVW, 5% grades at 65 mph at GVW, and fuel costs can be lot less.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 16, 2017

Tesla Semi


Elon Musk introducing the Tesla Semi last night.​

Tesla Facility in Los Angles, California – The Tesla Semi was revealed to a throng of Tesla enthusiasts and is said to deliver a better and safer driving experience for drivers while significantly reducing the cost of cargo delivery.

2019 Tesla Semi Performance

The Tesla Semi achieves 0-60 mph in five seconds unloaded compared to 15 seconds for a standard turbo diesel semi.

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The Tesla Semi achieves 0-60 mph in 20 seconds with a full trailer and 80,000-pound GVW compared to a turbo diesel semi of about 45 seconds. When equipped with the Tesla aero trailer.

The Tesla Semi climbs 5 percent grades at a steady 65 mph compared to a turbo diesel semi that maxes out at 35 mph on the same 5 percent grade. A 13L Turbo Diesel with 75 to 80k load anyway. The Tesla Semi when equipped with the Tesla aero trailer anyway.

The Tesla Semi with its 100 kWh + onboard battery storage provides up to 500 miles of range when equipped with the Tesla aero trailer.

2019 Tesla Semi

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The Tesla Semi requires no shifting or clutching for smooth acceleration and deceleration, and its regenerative braking recovers 98 percent of kinetic energy to the battery, giving it a basically infinite brake life. Overall, the Semi is more responsive, and may cover more miles than a diesel truck in the same amount of time including the flat to 80 percent charge time of 30-minutes from some yet to be announced Level4 -- is there even a 4-kWh charger? -- DC Mega Charger.

Tesla Semi Driver Experience

The Tesla Semi’s cabin is designed specifically around the driver, featuring unobstructed stairs for easier entry and exit, full standing room inside, and a centered driver position for optimal visibility. Two touchscreen displays positioned symmetrically on both sides of the driver provide easy access to navigation, blind spot monitoring and electronic data logging. Built-in connectivity integrates directly with a fleet’s management system to support routing and scheduling, and remote monitoring. Diesel trucks today currently require several third-party devices for similar functionality.

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Tesla Semi Megacharger

A new ultra-high current and voltage high-speed DC charging solution will add about 400 miles in 30 minutes and can be installed at origin or destination points along heavily trafficked routes, enabling recharging during loading, unloading, and driver breaks. Cost for a full 4kV Level4 Charger install is TBD and TBA.

Tesla Semi Safety

The all-electric Tesla Semi is designed to have a higher safety standard than any other heavy-duty truck on the market, with a reinforced battery that shields the Semi from impact and gives it an exceptionally low center of gravity. Its windshield is made of impact resistant glass. Jackknifing is prevented due to the Semi's onboard sensors that detect instability and react with positive or negative torque to each wheel while independently actuating all brakes. The surround cameras aid object detection and minimize blind spots, automatically alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. With Enhanced Autopilot, the Tesla Semi features Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Lane Keeping, Lane Departure Warning, and event recording.

The Tesla Semi can also travel in a convoy, where one or several Semi trucks will be able to autonomously follow a lead Semi. <-- Wow!

Tesla Semi Reliability

With far fewer moving parts than a diesel truck – no engine, transmission, after-treatment system or differentials to upkeep – the Tesla Semi requires significantly less maintenance. Its battery is similar in composition to the batteries of Tesla energy products and is designed to support repeated charging cycles for over a million miles, while its motors are derived from the motors used in Model 3 and have been validated to last more than one million miles under the most demanding conditions.

Tesla Semi Lowest Total Cost of Ownership

All-in, the Tesla Semi delivers massive savings in energy costs, performance, efficiency and reliability.

The biggest immediate cost-advantage comes from savings in energy costs: fully loaded, the Tesla Semi consumes less than 2 kWh of energy per mile and is capable of 500 miles of range at GVW and highway speed, accommodating a wide range of shipping applications given that nearly 80 percent of freight in the U.S. is moved less than 250 miles. Coupled with the low and stable nature of electricity prices – which average $0.12/kWh in the U.S. and can be significantly less for commercial and industrial users, falling to almost nothing when combined with local solar generation and storage – owners can expect to gain $200,000 or more in savings over a million miles based on fuel costs alone.

As with all Tesla products, any claims about low TCO have to be taken with a grain of salt. A 1,000 kWh pack costs an estimated $75,000 to $125,000 all by it lonesome. A modern day turbo diesel-powered day cab semi costs about $100,000 with warranty as driven off the lot by comparison.

Tesla Semi Cargo Weight Capacity Comparison

Here are some of back of the envelope calculations on the Tesla Semi pack size and weight. According to Tesla, the Semi will incorporate the Model3's 2170 cells that are approximately 30 percent more energy dense than the current P100Ds 18650s. Considering a P100Ds package of cells weigh 1,330 lbs for 102 kWh total capacity and the resultant energy density increase, the Semi's ~ 1,000 kWh pack should weigh approximately 9,300 lbs. I do not have any confidence on trying to "guess" the weight of the Tesla Semi motors just yet but it will be significant.

By comparison, a new Cummins 15X with its emissions pkg., radiator, an Eaton automated manual 10-speed transmission, and 200 gallons of diesel fuel including the tanks come in at approximately 5,500 lbs.

In other words, I suspect an 80K GVWR will see the Tesla Semi's max cargo weight fall by about 7,500 lbs. vs. a similarly equipped Day Cab Big Rig due mainly to the most energy dense 1,000 kWh battery pack in history will still fall far short of the energy density of diesel fuel.

The shape of things to come.​

Tesla Semi Pre-orders

Both J. B Hunt and Wal-Mart stated they have pre-ordered at least 15 of the unique Tesla Semis.

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO said:

Reservations for the Tesla Semi can be made for $5,000 USD per truck. Production is scheduled to begin in 2019. Maybe, just maybe this will finally start to produce a profit for the beleaguered but admired all-electric vehicle company.

 

Hi All:

I added some more pieces to the puzzle that have been bothering me since the intro in LA the other night.

Tesla Semi Cargo Weight Capacity Comaprison

Here are some of back of the envelope calculations on the Tesla Semi pack size and weight. According to Tesla, the Semi will incorporate the Model3's 2170 cells that are approximately 30 percent more energy dense than the current P100Ds 18650s. Considering a P100Ds package of cells weigh 1,330 lbs for 102 kWh total capacity and the resultant energy density increase, the Semi's ~ 1,000 kWh pack should weigh approximately 9,300 lbs. A WAG on mut part but I am probably +/- 10 percent. I do not have any confidence on trying to "guess" the weight of the Tesla Semi motors just yet but it will be significant.

By comparison, a new Cummins 15X with its emissions pkg., radiator, an Eaton automated manual 10-speed transmission, and 200 gallons of diesel fuel including the tanks come in at approximately 5,500 lbs.

In other words, I suspect an 80K GVWR will see the Tesla Semi's max cargo weight fall by about 7,500 lbs. vs. a similarly equipped Day Cab Big Rig due mainly to the most energy dense 1,000 kWh battery pack in history will still fall far short of the energy density of diesel fuel.

Wayne

 

Hi Kacey:

I am not so sure as they are using the 3s packs laid out in a different more massively parallel arrangement with possibly much larger cooling needs and channels. It is going to be hard to overcome that estimated 7,500 lbs of additional weight as that comes directly off the trailers cargo weight. Li-Ion's energy density vs. Diesel is multiple orders of magnitude less while the entire drive train including the 10-speed AT was accounted for in my calculations above.

The semi is well beyond Tesla fanboy territory and will have to make its presence known on the TCO as a business vase, something the Tesla Corporation has never been able to justify before. TCO is everything here but it would be great to see these as mules at the Long Beach Port instead of the FCVs and CNG trucks intermixed with the diesels that are there now.

Wayne

 

How often are trailers loaded up to a point where that ~7500 pound weight difference will be important?

The economics will look a little better up here compared to the USA, our electricity prices are lower and diesel prices are higher. Probably why Wal-Mart is planning to use most of its first order on its Canadian routes.

 

Hi All:

I was speaking with a truck driver yesterday and mentioned most trailers are not the full aero variety. He guessed there would be a 10 percent fall off in efficiency/range while running a std. trailer behind the Tesla Semi. I see a lot of negatives popping up about width of the cab and trailer, the cargo cap, and cost.

If we can all agree on one thing, when Tesla has a Presser, it sure does take all the air out of the room...

Wayne

 

Tentative pricing information is out, $150k for a 300 mile version, and $180k for a 500 mile version.

https://insideevs.com/tesla-semi-starts-from-150000-300-miles-range-180000-500-miles-range/

 

Hi All:

Early reports is that it is now dead.

Wayne