Tesla announces electric truck with 500-mile range
Tue 21 November 2017
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The US EV-manufacturer Tesla has announced the launch of the Tesla Semi, an electric articulated lorry with a claimed range of 500 miles on a single charge. The vehicle will go into production in 2019. Daimler, Volvo and Renault are also reported to be developing freight vehicles to run on electric power.
Tesla says that the Semi will achieve 0-60mph in 20 seconds when pulling 36,287kgs (80,000lbs), the maximum allowed on US roads.
Speaking on stage at Tesla's facility in Los Angeles, chief executive Elon Musk (reported by the BBC) said: "It's not like any truck that you've ever driven."
There are an estimated 3.5 million truck drivers in the US, the vast majority of whom drive diesel-powered engines. Tesla will not be able to compete on diesel’s range, and some analysts doubt whether Tesla can produce a powerful enough battery at a reasonable price, though there will be potentially large savings for users in operating cost.
Meanwhile, Daimler has introduced the FUSO eCanter in New York. At the end of July production of the first all-electric Canter began as a limited-volume series from plants in Kawasaki and Tramagal. In September, Daimler supplied a fleet of eight local zero-emission FUSO eCanter trucks to several New York based NGOs. (
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Renault Trucks and Groupe Delanchy have announced the development of an experimental all-electric truck equipped with a refrigerated box for delivering fresh produce. Groupe Delanchy will deliver produce to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse (France’s largest covered food market) using the 13-tonne vehicle.
Although an experimental vehicle, the electric truck will be used under real operating conditions in Lyon. The 100% electric rigid chassis vehicle will supplement the 700 Renault Trucks of the Delanchy, group.
The Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo Trucks is
reported to be in discussion with Samsung to develop future-generation batteries in order to commercialize trucks powered by electricityay.
In an interview with The Korea Herald, Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo Trucks, said the company has been in talks with the South Korean technology giant to introduce electric trucks.
In a separate development, US-based
Workhorse Group says it has received $300 million worth of pre-orders for its W-15 plug-in hybrid pickup truck.
The W-15 features dual electric motors providing a total of 460 hp, a payload of 2,200 pounds and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. Workhorse expects to deliver its first trucks by late 2018, at an estimated price of $52,500 each.
The diesel truck engine manufacturer, Cummins, also introduced a concept electric truck earlier this year. (
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