The Tesla Semi has been revealed with production for the fully electric, 500-mile range lorry due to begin in 2019.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the truck last Thursday in Hawthorne California, and it is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 5 seconds. Fully loaded with 36 tonnes of cargo the truck is able to hit the 20 second mark which trumps its diesel-powered rivals by around 40 seconds.
Musk claims the lorry's energy recovery systems are capable of recovering 98% of kinetic energy to the battery, There will be a new high-speed DC charging solution called the Megacharger which the lorry can be connected to and can add around 400 miles in 30 minutes. They can be installed at origin or destination points much like the existing Superchargers which can be found at service stations etc.
Tesla refrained from going into further detail about the drivetrain and battery, but went into detail about the advanced autonomous technology to prevent jack-knifing of the trailer with onboard sensors that detect instability, adjust torque sent to each wheel and independently actuate all brakes. Additionally, surround cameras reduce blind spots, alerting drivers to safety hazards and obstacles. The truck also introduces a new Enhanced Autopilot system, with emergency braking, lane keeping, lane departure warning and event recording.
Alongside all the performance and safety benefits, Musk also detailed the massive savings that can be made by opting for electric, he states owners "can expect to save $200,000 or more in savings over a million miles based on fuel costs alone".
You can reserve the Semi now for $5000, with production due to start in less than two years. Things have progressed since the truck was teased earlier this year, as covered by Freightlink Reload.