Tesla launched high-volume production of its Semi electric truck at an invite-only event streamed from its factory, aiming the vehicle at the fleet managers who buy trucks in bulk. Several of those buyers, all men, came on stage to be recognized for their orders as techno music played. The Semi concept was first shown at a Tesla event in late 2017, making the production launch the culmination of nearly a decade of development.
Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of Vehicle Engineering, said the long-range Semi will travel an estimated 500 miles per charge, close to the daily distance the average US long-haul trucker covers. A standard version will get an estimated 325 miles per charge. Competing electric trucks advertise ranges between 155 and 430 miles. Elon Musk, in a pre-taped video, described the Semi as a driver's truck that drives like a sports car, and said it would make strong economic sense because electricity costs far less than diesel. Musk did not attend the event, his second straight vehicle debut missed while he was at a White House China State Dinner featuring President Xi Jinping.
Electric trucks account for nearly 30 percent of heavy-duty truck sales in China, according to state media, but adoption in the US has been slow because electric semis cost two to three times more upfront than diesel models and are difficult to charge. They depend on a nationwide network of specialized megawatt chargers capable of filling large batteries in hours. Tesla's website lists two public megawatt chargers operating in the Los Angeles area, and Dan Priestley, who leads the Semi program, said the company plans to open 30 by the end of the year.
Federal support for electric vehicles has shrunk. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress cut billions in EV funding last year, and the administration is working to lower fuel economy standards for truck engines that would have required manufacturers to meet aggressive climate goals. Heavy trucks account for about 7 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, US diesel prices hit record highs this month as the Iran War disrupts oil production and shipping in the Middle East, with prices nearly double what they were a year ago.
An alliance of shippers that includes Microsoft and PepsiCo placed a record order for 2,500 Tesla Semis, with deliveries starting this year and continuing over the next 18 months. If those trucks reach customers, they would nearly double the number of heavy-duty electric trucks on US roads. Meena Bibra, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Smart Freight Centre, which was involved in the deal, said the group chose Tesla after assessing price, performance, production capability, and service support. The group said pooling demand across many carriers helped bring prices down.
Buyers may also purchase electric trucks from Kenworth, Ride, and Volvo if they are used to another truckmaker's vehicles or if other models better fit their needs. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver assistance feature will not be available on the Semi yet, though Musk said in his address that it would arrive in the very near future. The feature's predecessor, Enhanced Autopilot, was promised during the 2017 rollout.
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