Why the Tesla Semi?
Elon Musk is already offering us some superb electric sedans and electric SUVsHowever, he wants to go one step further in the ecological transition by electrifying the main means of transport. He explains in his presentation that trucks account for 1% of vehicles in the USA, 20% of vehicle emissions in the USA, but also 36% of fine-particle emissions from vehicles.
Although trucks account for only a small percentage, their emissions are still significant. The aim behind the Tesla Semi is therefore to is to reduce the CO2 emissions generated by road transport day and night, all over the world. But also to restrict emissions of fine particles, which cause health problems for people living close to freeways. The CEO of Tesla insists strongly that the impact on health is enormous".
How does the Tesla Semi perform?
The company itself refers to its semi-trailer as a "beast".We could therefore expect great performance from Tesla's electric truck. Indeed, the biggest surprise was its range: the Semi offers us a version with 500 km of range and another with 800 km of range on a single charge! In tests, the electric truck managed to cover 800 km with a 36.7-tonne loada real asset.
Just like the Tesla Model S Plaidthe Semi has three electric motors, two of which will be used for acceleration and one which will be used on freeways. This will limit energy consumption. Speaking of consumption, the Semi will use 2 kWh for 1.5 km, or around 125 kWh/100 km, thanks to a new, more aerodynamic design. more aerodynamic ergonomics than the diesel trucks we're used to seeing.
As for its speed, we don't know its top speed, however, Tesla has announced that this electric truck can go from 0 to 95 km/h in just 20s. We were also treated to a video that put the Tesla Semi through its paces, showing it to be resistant to water, snow and shocks. Another performance video was also shown, showing this electric truck easily overtake a diesel truck on a 6% gradient..
See also: Electric trucks: What are the best models in 2022?
Discover the electric cars available from Beev
What about charging the Tesla Semi?
We don't yet have much data on recharging the Tesla electric truck, but we do know that it will be able to recharge 70% of its battery in 30 minutes using 1,400 kW of power. To this end, Tesla has announced the new Superchargers v4 cable, which will be capable of exceeding 1,000 kW of power. All we have to do now is wait for the charging stations Superchargers capable of delivering 1,500 kW that will recharge the enormous battery weighing almost a ton.
As for the price of fuel, we don't know exactly how much a full charge will cost. Nevertheless, Elon Musk tells us that over the first three years of owning this electric truck, we can save 200,000 we can save on fuelcompared with a diesel truck. The recharging aspect remains to be clarified, but we'll have more details sometime in 2023, when the first trucks will actually be on the road.
An electric truck designed with the driver in mind
For a driver, the performance of his truck is very important. However, the comfort of his cab is a priority, since he will be spending all his days and nights inside it. That's why Tesla Electrichas decided to build the driver's cab around the driver.
First, there is the steering wheel in the centerfor a better view of the road.
Then you can the option of standing behind your seat so you can take off your jacket and hang it on a coat rack, or even just stand up without getting out of your truck.
There are also two shelves on either side of the steering wheelwhich can perform the same functions as the central screen on Tesla's electric cars. On the right, for example, you can set your speed, battery percentage or blind spot cameras in full screen mode, while on the left you can set your itinerary.
Induction chargers and USB-C sockets will also be present inside the cabin.
Discover several models of electric vehicles available for quick delivery!
