Tesla electric truck unveiled

The Tesla Semi electric truck has been revealed, after some delays and much hype.

It can get to 96.5km/h in five seconds, Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk says in a live streamed presentation on November 17.
And the Tesla truck has a 804.6km range, he says.

Musk explains the truck looks “like a bullet” to reduce drag.

Four independent electric motors power the Tesla Semi, which also has independent front suspension.

Musk reveals a few other details during the live stream.

Pulling the maximum allowable load of 36,287kg in the US it can reach 96.5km/h in 20 seconds, in both cases vastly outstripping diesel trucks.
Uphill, the Tesla truck can do 104.6km/h on a 5% grade, while diesel can only reach 72.4km/h. Musk says.

“If you are pulling a load over the Rockies or some mountain range you’re earning 50% more per mile than in a diesel truck,” he says.

The Semi’s cabin is designed specifically around the driver, featuring unobstructed stairs for easier entry and exit, full standing room inside, and a centred driver position for optimal visibility. Two touchscreen displays positioned symmetrically on both sides of the driver provide easy access to navigation, blind spot monitoring and electronic data logging. Built-in connectivity integrates directly with a fleet’s management system to support routing and scheduling, and remote monitoring.

Megachargers, a new high-speed DC charging solution, will add about 640km in 30 minutes and can be installed at origin or destination points and along heavily trafficked routes, enabling recharging during loading, unloading, and driver breaks.

It’s designed to have a higher safety standard than any other heavy-duty truck on the market, Tesla says.

Onboard sensors detect instability and react with positive or negative torque to each wheel while independently actuating all brakes to prevent jack-knifing. The surround cameras aid object detection and minimise blind spots, automatically alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. With enhanced autopilot, the Tesla Semi features automatic emergency braking, automatic lane keeping, lane departure warning, and event recording.

The Tesla Semi can also travel in a convoy, where one or several Semi trucks will be able to autonomously follow a lead truck.
Fewer moving parts means less maintenance, Tesla says.

Reservations for the Tesla Semi can be made for US$5000 per truck with production starting in 2019.