Tesla Semi-Truck Revealed: 805km Range

Amercian electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has revealed its Semi Truck.

Updated: Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 12:37 [IST]

Amercian electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has revealed its first venture into the world of commercial vehicles in the form of its long-awaited Semi Truck.

Tesla Semi-Truck Revealed With 805km Range

The Tesla Semi can sprint from 0-60mph (96.5kph) in just 5 seconds which is around 10 seconds faster than its diesel-powered rivals. When lugging around 80,000lbs (36,287kg), its maximum towing capacity, the Tesla Semi accelerates from 0-60mph in 20 seconds.

While climbing up a 5 percent gradient, the Tesla semi can hit 65mph (104.6kph) whereas diesel-powered rivals max out at just 45mph (72.4kph).

The reason for the quick acceleration is the fact that the Tesla Semi is powered by four electric motors which are mounted on the wheels. The motors themselves are from the Tesla Model 3 sedan which along with the inset door handles are some of the components it borrows from the smallest Tesla sedan in a bid to improve production efficiency.

While details about the battery pack have not been revealed, Tesla claims that the Semi will be able to travel up to 500 miles (804.6km) on a single charge at highway speeds. Aiding the range is the fact that the Tesla Semi has a better coefficient of drag (0.36) compared to the Bugatti Chiron (0.38).

Charging the Semi will also be a breeze thanks to the new Tesla Mega Chargers which add 400 miles (643km) of range to the battery pack in just 30 minutes.

In terms of design, the Semi features a streamliner exterior design and the angled vertical headlights features daytime running lights and while there is no grille, the bumper does feature a large air intake.

Inside, the new Tesla, the driver sits dead centre and the driver's seat is flanked by two touchscreen displays. Another removable jump seat for a passenger is placed offset behind the driver.

Tesla will offer the Semi with a host of features including autopilot, its advanced semi-autonomous driving system, The motors on each wheel prevent jackknifing and the 'explosion-proof' armoured glass will keep semi-truck drivers happy. Speaking of the last feature, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, "It survives a nuclear explosion, or you get your money back."

DriveSpark Thinks!

Tesla is at it again once again as it looks to disrupt the trucking industry. With its streamlined design, agility, impressive range, fast charging times and promised lower cost of running along with the million mile warranty, the new Tesla Semi could very well be the truck that rules the roads in the future