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Elon Musk has unveiled the Tesla Semi Truck. It supposedly boasts a single-charge range of over 500 miles, more than what analysts had expected. Tesla could begin producing the vehicles by the end of 2019 (assuming it isn't delayed):
The truck can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in five seconds without a trailer, and in 20 seconds when carrying a maximum load of 80,000 pounds, less than a third of the time required for a diesel truck, he said.
He gave no price for the truck but hinted that it would be costly. "Tesla stuff is expensive," Mr. Musk said, drawing another cheer from the crowd, gathered at an airfield outside of Los Angeles. But he also said the electric truck would be less expensive to operate, in part because it has fewer components that require regular maintenance (no engine, transmission or drive shaft). Instead, the truck, called the Tesla Semi, is powered by a giant battery beneath the cab. It has two rear axles, each outfitted with two electric motors, one for each wheel. Its acceleration and uphill speeds will allow it to cover more distance in less time than diesel trucks, he added.
As a result, Tesla is estimating it will cost $1.26 per mile to operate, compared with $1.51 a mile for a diesel truck. The cost can fall further — to 85 cents a mile, according to Tesla — if groups of trucks travel together in convoys, which reduces wind drag. "This beats rail," Mr. Musk said.
In typical Tesla fashion, the truck is a sharp departure from industry norms. The cabin is spacious enough for a driver and passenger to stand. The driver's seat is in the center of the cab, not on the left side. It is flanked by two laptop-size video screens providing navigation and scheduling data as well as images of blind spots and other areas around the truck. It will be equipped with radar sensors, cameras and processors to enable drivers to use a version of Autopilot, the advanced driver-assistance system featured in Tesla cars such as the Model S and the new Model 3.
Tesla will also produce a new version of the Tesla Roadster that can go from 0-60 in 1.9 seconds.
Also at BBC, TechCrunch, and Firstpost.
Pre-conference coverage at Bloomberg
Previously: Tesla Sued Over Alleged Racism; Deliveries Pushed Back; Semi Truck to be Unveiled
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday November 18 2017, @03:06PM
There's two things to keep in mind here. First, energy savings aren't that valuable due to the usual low cost of electricity. And such things also have costs.
For example, I've worked security guard at a location where everyone leaves at the end of the day. It made sense in that situation to turn lights off when I found them (this is despite the fact that workers were trained to turn lights off at the end of the day).
Now, consider instead a location where no one patrols the location after dark. Now, if you want someone to check the lights at the end of the day, you have to pay someone to drive in and walk around, just checking lights. Sorry, you just made making sure the lights are off into an expensive operation.
The marginal cost of checking that lights are out in the first scenario is zero cost. I would be there and often turning lights on and off anyway. The marginal cost of the second scenario is much higher since one has to pay for significant transportation and time costs just to send someone out to check lights. To the person who never considers the cost of energy savings, the two scenarios are equivalent. But they aren't.