Tesla semis to be ordered by Walmart and Loblaw: this truck changes everything

Source: Tesla

This Tesla electric semi trailer doesn’t jack-knife, can do 0-100kms in 6 seconds (without load), can go up inclines at a steady 100 km/hr (with load), has a cool centralised driving position, wrap-around armoured glass windows, touch screens, and doesn’t pollute. It beats diesel trucks in just about every measurable way. The range can be with a 500 mile (800km) option (fully loaded), or a 300 mile option. In North America, at first, there will be a network of “megachargers” that will be able to give the truck 400 miles of range in 30 minutes.

Tesla claims significantly lower maintenance costs (similar to EV passenger cars) and is offering charging at fixed electricity prices, thus virtually guaranteeing operating costs for truck fleet operators and 1 million miles of break-down free use. A company could save tens of thousands of dollars if the Tesla semi is, as Musk said, 25 cents cheaper to operate per mile than a standard diesel truck. The average number of miles driven a year per large truck is just over 100,000, according to industry analysts. That means each Tesla semi could save a company at least $US25,000 a year.

However, Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR, an industry economics research firm, said: “The 500-mile (800 km) range between charges that Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk promised ...... for the Tesla semi is about half the range between fill-ups of a diesel Class 8 truck. Heavy batteries cut payload and add cost, potential deal killers for fleet buyers focused on operating cost per mile.”

At least two companies are to order the semis for pilot studies. Walmart is to order 15 and Loblaw 25. Loblaw, a Canadian grocery chain, earlier this month committed to have a fully electric fleet as part of the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030. That would involve adding 350 zero-emission vehicles and more than 2,500 trailers to the fleet.

For further reading please see:
Darth Vader or not, the Tesla truck changes everything. RenewEconomy,
Walmart to order 15 Tesla semi trucks, Canadian Grocer Loblaw to order 25. CleanTechnica,
Wal-Mart says it’s preordered 15 of Tesla’s electric tractor trailers. CNBC,
Loblaw says it ordered 25 Tesla electric trucks, wants fully electric fleet by 2030. Financial Post.