Tesla held yesterday the official delivery event of the first production version of its Semi electric trucks to its first customer: PepsiCo.
“We’re incredibly excited tonight to actually deliver our first production Tesla Semi trucks,” Musk said at the event at Nevada plant. The all-electric Semi features an innovative design, shaped “like a bullet,” in which the driver sits in the center of the cab rather than on the side and, according to Musk, is far more powerful than a diesel, with a 0 to 60 mph acceleration speed of 20 seconds.
The Semi’s battery can be charged to 70% capacity in 30 minutes at a fast charging station, and the range varies between 300 and 500 miles on a single charge. “It’s not like 500 miles with no load, with special aero, and special everything. It’s fully loaded.”
“If you’re a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it.”
Elon Musk
“It’s been a long journey, long five years, but this is gonna really revolutionize the roads and I think make the world a better place in a meaningful way,” Musk added.
The company didn’t provide pricing information for the truck, but in 2017, when it was first unveiled the 500-mile version cost $150,000, and the 800-mile version cost $180,000. In May of this year, Tesla began actively accepting reservations again for a $20,000 down payment. “And first deliveries are now,” as Musk said on Thursday. It is estimated that 100 units will be produced this year, with a target of 50,000 units by 2024.
Musk did not take any questions at the end of the event, which sparked some skepticism over the vehicle’s capabilities, Reuters reported.
A few days ago, the French automaker Renault began making deliveries of its E-Tech electric trucks for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. The beverage giant is electrifying one-fifth of its truck fleet and develops the largest fleet of electric trucks in Belgium thanks to the partnership with Renault Trucks.
Source: cnn.com
