Tesla Semi

[Reciprocity]

I would have preferred that Tesla enter the local delivery market instead of the semi market.

The charging infrastructure would be much more straightforward since it would be based on specific locations where trucks are routinely parked overnight.

The battery requirement would be much less since delivery trucks travel something like 100 miles/day, not the 300-mile semi range. Delivery trucks also don't have max gross weights of 40 tons or travel (much) at highway speeds. The stop-and-go nature is perfect for an E-Truck.

The semis also won't get regenerative braking from the trailer wheels.

Postal delivery vehicles are a perfect choice for electrification.

You wanna know why they didn't? Because others will. No one is building class 8 long haul big rigs. Tesla is smart and letting others do busses and Vans and delivery trucks. Not because they don't want to but instead because that can't do everything and those categories are actually being served to some degree.

 

[Brando]

I would have preferred that Tesla enter the local delivery market instead of the semi market.

The charging infrastructure would be much more straightforward since it would be based on specific locations where trucks are routinely parked overnight.

The battery requirement would be much less since delivery trucks travel something like 100 miles/day, not the 300-mile semi range. Delivery trucks also don't have max gross weights of 40 tons or travel (much) at highway speeds. The stop-and-go nature is perfect for an E-Truck.

The semis also won't get regenerative braking from the trailer wheels.

Postal delivery vehicles are a perfect choice for electrification.

All these uses seem so obvious. WHY hasn't any of the truck/van companies done it?? Airports use electric and warehouses use electric fork lifts (and now robots). Too busy over working drivers and keeping pay down?? 11 hour driving day, really??

see above -Reciprocity seems to have a point. Also, transportation so (over?) regulated the barriers to entry are very high. Engineering and testing need to develop better products - see Tesla products.

 

[EinSV]

DHL estimates the payback period for a Tesla Semi to be only 1.5 years due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Numbers starting to add up for Tesla trucks: DHL executive

The economics in favor of switching to an EV Semi become overwhelming if Tesla can achieve these numbers.

The DHL executive quoted also highlights the need for a nationwide charging network for DHL to scale up its orders. I continue to believe that at least a skeleton charging network over the major trucking routes in Tesla's highest priority markets will be built out sooner rather than later to accelerate adoption and increase the order book.

 

[RobStark]

For James Sembrot, Senior Director of Strategy and Logistics at Anheuser-Busch, Tesla’s attention to driver comfort is a big selling point. “One of the biggest areas of headache for trucking companies is retaining drivers, and these trucks have a very innovative design. It is a more comfortable experience for the driver: They’re surrounded by windows and there are other features that we think can help make a very tough job a better job. So we view that as a potential source of return, less turnover in the drivers that drive our products to market.”

Tesla Semi: Why are Food and Beverage Companies So Interested? | Inverse

It doesn't seem like AB thinks truck drives refusing to drive EVs because they are not manly enough is going to be a problem.

 

[Brando]

Will be interesting to compare Mercedes electric Sprinter Van sales to Tesla SEMI sales.
Both quantity and dollar amounts.

(and will Daimler deliver any of their electric Semi trucks in Europe or US or Japan? Daimler was supposed to start US deliveries late 2017, I have not heard of any delivery/sales in US - anyone else read any thing?? side note: class 7 not class 8 any EU readers ? )

 

[jhm]

For James Sembrot, Senior Director of Strategy and Logistics at Anheuser-Busch, Tesla’s attention to driver comfort is a big selling point. “One of the biggest areas of headache for trucking companies is retaining drivers, and these trucks have a very innovative design. It is a more comfortable experience for the driver: They’re surrounded by windows and there are other features that we think can help make a very tough job a better job. So we view that as a potential source of return, less turnover in the drivers that drive our products to market.”

Tesla Semi: Why are Food and Beverage Companies So Interested? | Inverse

It doesn't seem like AB thinks truck drives refusing to drive EVs because they are not manly enough is going to be a problem.

You know, not every driver at first will get to drive a Tesla at AB. So if the drivers really like it, it will be a competitive perk. This, then, gives AB a compelling reward for employee performance. If the best drivers get to drive the best trucks which happen to be Teslas, this could radically change truck culture.

 

[TEG]

I am looking forward to the day when we see electric firetrucks, garbage trucks, and ambulances. They tend to have a limited service area (so don't need a giant battery), and make good use of off the line stop/start quick acceleration.
They also need a lot of torque to handle all that equipment / cargo weight. I think it could be fun to see how Tesla would modernize all the systems for those types of vehicles.
Also, they tend to do a lot of idling to keep systems running. Good use for an EV that runs AC/heat/lights off the traction pack for long periods.

Also looking forward to seeing Model 3's being hauled by electric Semi's instead of the dinosaurs doing the hauling now.
Tesla should put a megacharger on the i5, and start doing Fremont -> LA deliveries that way...

 

[Ulmo]

I would have preferred that Tesla enter the local delivery market instead of the semi market.

The charging infrastructure would be much more straightforward since it would be based on specific locations where trucks are routinely parked overnight.

The battery requirement would be much less since delivery trucks travel something like 100 miles/day, not the 300-mile semi range. Delivery trucks also don't have max gross weights of 40 tons or travel (much) at highway speeds. The stop-and-go nature is perfect for an E-Truck.

The semis also won't get regenerative braking from the trailer wheels.

Postal delivery vehicles are a perfect choice for electrification.

While I sort of see your point from an incremental simplicity point of view (reminds me of the death delivered by incremental socialism), I say:

• Tesla wants to solve all transport.
• Tesla wants to show it can solve all transport.
• Tesla wants to go big, not being held back by unnecessary modesty nor a compromised mentality, to show it can go big to end any doubt or excuse from anyone, and to finish everything.
  
• Using Tesla's existing technology path, there's no reason not to do all three above. Tesla doesn't have to do extremely super duper slow incremental improvement that takes centuries; decades is more than enough time. Electric really is that much easier than distilled guts exploding all over.

That sums up my answer.

 

[Brando]

strategies and competition and disruption

Interesting insights mostly about main competitor Daimler Benz and German industry along with VIA (Lutz Chevy Hybrid Pickups) and coach builder Workhorse Hybrid W15 Pickup trucks (also make electric delivery vans).

2 million mile Semi? Disruption described by "Tesla Fan Insight"

 

[Reciprocity]

Elon is out there just trolling Daimler at this point. Tweet tonight that the semi specs will more then likely exceed the reveal after retweeting the electrek DHL article. LoL, they are in trouble.

 

[Reciprocity]

While I sort of see your point from an incremental simplicity point of view (reminds me of the death delivered by incremental socialism), I say:

• Tesla wants to solve all transport.
• Tesla wants to show it can solve all transport.
• Tesla wants to go big, not being held back by unnecessary modesty nor a compromised mentality, to show it can go big to end any doubt or excuse from anyone, and to finish everything.
  
• Using Tesla's existing technology path, there's no reason not to do all three above. Tesla doesn't have to do extremely super duper slow incremental improvement that takes centuries; decades is more than enough time. Electric really is that much easier than distilled guts exploding all over.

That sums up my answer.

I disagree a bit. Tesla would be happy to not have to do it all. Look at busses for example. That market is doing well without Tesla and they are fine with letting it go. Tesla is in business to make money, so what they want to do is dominate margin from the top down. There semi is really the outlier, but it's massive battery and charging demand will make every Tesla cheaper by scale. Every semi is equivalent to 23 model 3s in terms of fuel consumption per year. 10+ model 3s in terms of pack size. 100,000 semis = 1M model 3s for batteries and 2.3M for consumption. It's a force multiplier and a mission accelerator but I doubt they would have done it if someone else has a good solution already. No one else can do it. The problem it's 100,000 semis year will require upwards of 100GWh of batteries. That doesn't even include mega chargers that need powerpacks and solar.

Edit: the top down margin strategy is not about greed. It's about necessity and it's about forcing change. When your most profitable models stop selling because Tesla is beating you, you tend to get serious about doing something. This would not happen if Tesla focused on small cheap low margin cars. Tesla needs profits to fund rapid expansion. Mostly gigafactories.

 

[Brando]

I disagree a bit. Tesla would be happy to not have to do it all. Look at busses for example. That market is doing well without Tesla and they are fine with letting it go. Tesla is in business to make money, so what they want to do is dominate margin from the top down. There semi is really the outlier, but it's massive battery and charging demand will make every Tesla cheaper by scale. Every semi is equivalent to 23 model 3s in terms of fuel consumption per year. 10+ model 3s in terms of pack size. 100,000 semis = 1M model 3s for batteries and 2.3M for consumption. It's a force multiplier and a mission accelerator but I doubt they would have done it if someone else has a good solution already. No one else can do it. The problem it's 100,000 semis year will require upwards of 100GWh of batteries. That doesn't even include mega chargers that need powerpacks and solar.

Edit: the top down margin strategy is not about greed. It's about necessity and it's about forcing change. When your most profitable models stop selling because Tesla is beating you, you tend to get serious about doing something. This would not happen if Tesla focused on small cheap low margin cars. Tesla needs profits to fund rapid expansion. Mostly gigafactories.

As you point out - SEMI trucks are big business especially in US where I believe 75% of freight by trucks. check out
2016 North American Freight Numbers | Bureau of Transportation Statistics

As Elon says; money not his main motive, but companies must make profits to exist. And SEMI is a very significant and will be a profitable segment. You'd enjoy the above Thread at SEMI - see my above post.

 

[wnorris]

Tesla Semi spotted between on highway between Freemont factory and Gigafactory 1. Now we need some details on the manufacturing of these things.

Tesla Semi spotted cruising on CA highway leading to Gigafactory 1

 

[LCR1]

I'll start caring when I see them moving gross up Davis Dam in July.

 

[jhm]

Tesla Semi spotted between on highway between Freemont factory and Gigafactory 1. Now we need some details on the manufacturing of these things.

Tesla Semi spotted cruising on CA highway leading to Gigafactory 1

I wonder when they will start hauling a load. Seems that would be needed for testing.

 

[Off Shore]

Does the Tesla Semi Break the Laws of Physics?

Apparently not. However, "Tesla Semi has not confirmed that it can fight aliens or make latte."

 

[jhm]

Does the Tesla Semi Break the Laws of Physics?

Apparently not. However, "Tesla Semi has not confirmed that it can fight aliens or make latte."

In-cab café would be really nice.

 

[wnorris]

First cargo run for the Tesla Semi...

Elon Musk on Instagram: “First production cargo trip of the Tesla Semi heavy duty truck, carrying battery packs from the Gigafactory in the Nevada mountains to the…”

 

[mongo]

First cargo run for the Tesla Semi...

Elon Musk on Instagram: “First production cargo trip of the Tesla Semi heavy duty truck, carrying battery packs from the Gigafactory in the Nevada mountains to the…”

Both Semis! Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy...

Wonder if the short top air diverter is compensated for by trailing the other semi...

 

[TEG]

The trip from (Nevada) Gigafactory to (Fremont) Car Factory is mostly downhill, so the Semi should have an easy time on energy use and range for that trip...
Then on the way back, the container should be empty, so again energy use should be reduced. It is good that the heavy packs are moving from high altitude to low. It would be a lot tougher on the semi if they had to haul the packs uphill instead.