Recent videos of the Tesla Semi at the 2024 IAA Transportation trade show in Hannover, Germany have revealed some new details about the production version of the Class 8 all-electric truck. These include, among other things, a space for a sleeper area and some clever storage space on the sides of the vehicle.
The Tesla Semi was initially unveiled in late 2017, though deliveries of the vehicle to its first customer, PepsiCo, started in December 2022. A number of changes have been rolled out to the Semi''s design since its unveiling, from the changing of its door handles to the removal of its frunk.
These include a sleeper cab, which would be useful for Tesla Semi units that would be deployed for long routes. Tesla has reportedly designed the Semi with a sleeper cab in mind, so for now, the area where the sleeper cab would be built is occupied by a metal frame. Considering the area occupied by a metal frame in the EV advocate''s video, it would appear that the Semi''s sleeper area would be quite spacious.
The production Tesla Semi is also fitted with side storage compartments, which are located on both sides of the Class 8 all-electric truck. The storage spaces are rather large, and they are reportedly opened through a button on the Tesla Semi''s touchscreen. Interestingly enough, the door of the vehicle also features physical buttons that open the hood and side storage areas.
The Tesla Semi features a central driving position, which suggests that the vehicle was designed for international markets from the beginning. Tesla reportedly only has to change very little in the Semi for it to be approved for Europe. The vehicle has not gone through homologation in EU markets yet, though this would likely be done later as the vehicle prepares to enter the region.
The construction area of the Tesla Semi factory was abuzz with activity when the electric truck enthusiast visited the site. A line of trucks could be seen in the area unloading insulation material for the Tesla Semi factory''s roof. In other areas of the facility, footings and columns have been installed as well.
While the Tesla Semi is yet to be ramped, CEO Elon Musk noted during the Q3 2024 earnings call that the upcoming all-electric Class 8 truck has “ridiculous” demand. This is due to the Semi''s low cost of ownership, which beats every other competitor in the market. Musk also noted that the Semi will feature a number of functions that simply make it better and safer than diesel long haulers.
"It’d be a massive improvement in driver fatigue because — and driver safety. We’ve got sort of the anti-jack knifing software. You don’t have to worry about your brakes overheating if you go down a steep hill because we generating that energy goes back and into the pack. It’s just like — it’s like radically better than a diesel is what the drivers love it," Musk said.
Tesla appeared to have at least five Semis at the event, which had PepsiCo and Frito-Lay branding. Pepsi previously shared plans to use at least 15 of the Tesla Semis to turn its Modesto, California Frito-Lay site into a zero-emissions facility.
Musk had originally introduced an electric Class 8 truck prototype in 2017 and planned to start production in December 2019. The trucking program has been plagued by delays. During its second-quarter 2021 earnings report, Tesla said it would need to push production out to 2022 due to supply chain challenges and the limited availability of battery cells.
Back in 2017, Tesla said Autopilot, the automaker’s advanced driver assistance system, would be on the Tesla Semi. At Thursday’s event neither Musk nor Dan Priestley, senior manager of Tesla Semi Engineering, mentioned any automated capabilities of the truck, nor discussed the placement of the cameras that would be needed for Autopilot to “see.”
However, Tesla did stay true to several of its other 2017 promises. For example, five years ago, Tesla said its Semi would be able to travel 500 miles on a single battery charge when fully loaded and driving 65 miles per hour. The automaker appears to have delivered on that promise Thursday and even demonstrated with a video showing a Semi drive from Fremont to San Diego. The company did not provide some important stats, however, including the size of the battery pack.
In the past, Musk has said the Semi will go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 20 seconds when fully loaded, but the executive didn’t mention that capability on Thursday. However, Musk and Priestley did tout the power of the Semi to easily pass another truck on a highway while loaded with goods and going up a 6% incline.
The Semi uses the same powertrain as the Plaid Model S and Model X and relies on a “tri-motor system.” Priestley said that means one of the motors is constantly engaged for maximum efficiency and the other two are for torque and acceleration, which could come in handy if a driver was getting onto a loading dock or wanted to pass another vehicle.
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