Semi Truck testing near Montreal?

[Lon12]

I just flew over the PMG Technologies vehicle testing track near Montreal today and noticed some big trucks drafting closely going fast around the oval track. Does anyone live near the track and know who is currently testing there? I just thought about this after reading the article on Electrek about Tesla planning to "Platoon" the trucks.

 

[Vawlkus]

I'd be extremely surprised if they were. It's WAY too far from the factory for testing in Montreal to be practical.

If they're doing tests, it'll be near the factory that's building the prototype.

 

[Lon12]

I'm sure we would all be surprised, but Tesla is testing the model 3 in Ohio, and that is not exactly close to where the factory is. The Ohio track is also a partner with PMG Technologies:
Nearly 100 Tesla Model 3s In Ohio For Independent Crash & Durability Testing

 

[doubeld]

This is very plausible. They have Model 3 cars testing down in New Zealand at their Winter proving grounds as well so distance from factory is not an issue for production-intent vehicles. Being that the Semi had been driven around their factory several months ago, it's very conceivable they're doing alpha/beta testing on actual tracks now.

The method that Tesla went for passenger cars will very much mirror the Truck strategy in my estimation.
Roadster --> S --> 3
Semi --> Local Delivery --> Pickup
Semi will bring in loads of revenue, maybe at a smaller margin. It's basically a giant ass battery with a bit of vehicle on top. That will help get the production strategies into local delivery trucks and then when enough factories are built, they can afford to enter the pickup market with a practical and cost-effective pickup for the masses (tm).

 

[agloutney]

Just flew over it this morning. There's definitely four semi trucks on the track. It was hard to tell from 4000 feet exactly what they were though.

 

[J1mbo]

Did you notice anything different about the trucks?

Any chance of a low pass with a photographer next time?

 

[agloutney]

Yeah, the trailer part looked a bit different like it bulged down between the back of the rig and the aft bogeys for aerodynamics. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good look as I was on the arrival to YUL and was limited to 4000 feet. I doubt my iPhone has any kind of zooming capability. I'll be doing that same arrival next week so i'll try to bring a better camera and hopefully they're still there. I'd really really love to do a low pass in the A320 but somehow I think it might get me in trouble haha!

 

[llavalle]

Hey guys,

I live ~1km from the PMG test track. These aren't Tesla Semi. The Track is used by 2 other truck manufacturers/fleet owner and they are testing aerodynamic tweaking of their trailers - I see them all the time.

 

[lance]

We flew by today also. Managed to snap a shot. Kinda poor resolution. Trucks don't look that special.

 

[DrivingRockies]

Hey guys,

I live ~1km from the PMG test track. These aren't Tesla Semi. The Track is used by 2 other truck manufacturers/fleet owner and they are testing aerodynamic tweaking of their trailers - I see them all the time.

Killjoy /sarcasm

 

[llavalle]

We flew by today also. Managed to snap a shot. Kinda poor resolution. Trucks don't look that special.

Yup, spot on. There are these blue trucks and also Robert which has a yellow painted fleet.

 

[llavalle]

Humm... ok, this is odd.

Since yesterday, there's a chopper doing very low passes over the PMG track. Not sure what there are doing.. filming perhaps? They also spray the woods south of the track for mosquito control but this is usually a plane, not a chopper!

Video taken from South-East of the track. Helo's path is parallel to the straights of the track...

 

[lance]

Humm... ok, this is odd.

Since yesterday, there's a chopper doing very low passes over the PMG track. Not sure what there are doing.. filming perhaps? They also spray the woods south of the track for mosquito control but this is usually a plane, not a chopper!

Video taken from South-East of the track. Helo's path is parallel to the straights of the track...

Terribly low in a built up area. Yikes!