Tesla Semi has been revealed! Pics, stats, and prices!

[Domenick]

The Tesla Semi presentation was pretty impressive overall. Well, except for a few minutes of black screen. Good-sounding numbers, though perhaps half of ideal (ideal was unexpected): 500 miles at maximum weight, recharge 400 miles in 30 minutes. Certainly better than what had been previously reported the numbers would be.

The cabin is clean, of course, and most notably, center-seated. Lots like a great place to spend some highway time. See for yourself below.

*Edit to add preliminary pricing has been announced: $200,000 for Founder's Edition (?!), $180,000 for 500-mile version, $150,000 for 300-mile version.

Semi_Front_Profile

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Front_34_Blue

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Interior_Overview

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Interior_Ingress

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Interior_Command

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Front_34

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Front_34_Static

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Profile_Hangar

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Rear_34_Hangar

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

Semi_Front_78

• Domenick
• Nov 17, 2017

 

[WalksOnDirt]

So, what was with the smaller truck on the stage? The video I watched was probably after the blackout you mentioned and it was never explained.

 

[Domenick]

So, what was with the smaller truck on the stage? The video I watched was probably after the blackout you mentioned and it was never explained.

Smaller truck onstage? Do you mean this pickup version of the Semi that was shown on screen?

 

[WalksOnDirt]

Smaller truck onstage? Do you mean this pickup version of the Semi that was shown on screen?

No, the black semi. I've looked at all the videos and it's never mentioned, but I did see a comment somewhere that it is for smaller trailers. Or possibly it's a day cab version.

 

[Domenick]

Oh, do you mean the one closest here? If so, that's just another Semi, but without the higher cap on top of the cab. I assume it's for a lower profile trailer or flatbed.

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

Oh, I thought the one in shadows was just the Semi Truck alone, with no trailer. But I see you're right; I pulled the photo into PhotoShop and lightened that section a bit.

Still not much detail seen behind the cab.

 

[JeffD]

Makes me almost want to be a truck driver.

 

[101101]

We learned that despite all the preemptive media BS that none of diesel firms got any kind of jump on Tesla. What they produced was comparative crap because they aren't serious.

Tesla semi more than 2x the power of a class 8 diesel and save $200K over million miles while potentially true zero emmisions, safer and can be cheaper than rail. Safer and fun to drive and way more reliable. Substantially cheaper from day one. Crushing difference. Just shows petrol firms are- weak all of them, Asian firms only exceptions. Used to be something to Mercedes and BMW when they produced quality but despite Renish capitalism the corrupting softness of petrol caught up to them.

Besides the super tough windshield the cab is carbon fiber. These things are revolutionary. And as for range its the same range as rail so no issue there.

And now Musk has now hinted that his interest in flying cars has changed. Wonder if Tencent which owns a chunk of Tesla pointed out Lilium which they also own a chunk of. Lilium in my opinion is the only real flying car design out there- scratch the car part. When you see it you know its the future- only one that even looks safe.

 

[Kumar Plocher]

I saw a comment somewhere that the promised $200,000 savings actually seem pretty low considering the guaranteed electric rate of 7 cents/kw. It makes me think that this truck might cost substantially more than a premium semi typically would. I've seen trucks that ran as high as $300,000, but they were specialty rigs. Are there any indications at all yet on what the price tag for this gift to humanity is?

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

...Are there any indications at all yet on what the price tag for this gift to humanity is?

I don't think there has been anything more than speculation and rumor.

But it seems quite likely that the purchase price will be substantially higher than for a diesel semi tractor. Tesla is almost certainly trying to persuade fleet owners that a higher purchase price will be worth it, as a trade-off for lower operating costs over the lifetime of the truck.

If the purchase price was comparable, Tesla would be trying to target all buyers of semi tractors, including independent truckers. The fact that Tesla is taking aim only at large fleet purchasers is a pretty good indication that the purchase price is considerably higher than it is for diesel semi tractors. It's the fleet owners, particularly the larger ones, who will be willing to look past a higher purchase price, to the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) over the lifetime of the trucks. It's also the larger fleet owners who have the deeper pockets needed for a higher up-front purchase price.

However, let's keep in mind that several or many analysts have suggested that Tesla might find it a more attractive offer to sell the tractor sans battery pack, and lease or rent the pack on a monthly or annual basis. That sounds reasonable to me, but so far as I can see from Googling the subject, there has been absolutely no indication from Tesla that it will offer to rent/lease the semi truck battery packs.

P.S. -- From my research into the subject, a typical price for a relatively high-end new diesel semi tractor is $150,000.

 

[101101]

Tesla Semi Priced From $150,000 (300 Mile) & $180,000 (500 Mile)

Way cheaper than expected!!! Plus Tesla raising reservation price points to spike reservations. Elektrek also speculated this price in the context of other data points to a battery break through.

Hilarious because of shill prattle like "Tesla didn't anounce one back axel version" when it showed the pick up illustration. Or "Tesla didn't offer a shorter range version" when apparently they are. Petersen have anything else to say? Maybe his retirement announcememt.

 

[Domenick]

I feel like these prices just changed ruined about 90% of the hot takes out there on the Semi.
I would note that Tesla left themselves some wiggle room by calling them "expected" prices. So, there's some chance these prices may change slightly, going either higher or lower. I think most people would expect higher.

 

[Kumar Plocher]

Domenick, at this point can we make a Semi sub forum under Tesla?

 

[101101]

I feel like these prices just changed ruined about 90% of the hot takes out there on the Semi.
I would note that Tesla left themselves some wiggle room by calling them "expected" prices. So, there's some chance these prices may change slightly, going either higher or lower. I think most people would expect higher.

Elsewhere its being said that this pens out to 75khw which is definintely below the tipping point thresh hold.

In another forum I kept seeing this hydrogen first nonsense. Forget hydrogens low ecconomic efficiency and it being a scam like the bridge fuel scam its also an attempt to keep the liquid fuel transport mechanism alive. Its a foot dragger tech and that is being charitable. In practice it would be a way to claim that green is still dirty and polluted so what is the point.

Only meaningful hydrogen might be a system that at the depot used solar to capture water from humidity and used it solar to make hydrogen. It just a cover for now useless natural gas.

 

[Domenick]

Elsewhere its being said that this pens out to 75khw which is definintely below the tipping point thresh hold.

Please feel free to link to the article guessing 75 kWh, so we can possibly see how they come to this conclusion. Also, I think you meant to say "750 kWH."

 

[101101]

Sorry no 75$ a kwh. Its opinion of a bunch of people on elektrek forum in discussion about announced semi prices vs pack size and in light of cost difference on range versions.

 

[Domenick]

Sorry no 75$ a kwh. Its opinion of a bunch of people on elektrek forum in discussion about announced semi prices vs pack size and in light of cost difference on range versions.

Ok, that makes more sense. Yeah, $75 kWh at the cell level is what I've personally been guessing.

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

Well, Tesla keeps surprising us with details on the Tesla Semi Truck!

Expected Base Price (300 mile range): $150,000

Expected Base Price (500 mile range): $180,000

Base Reservation: $20,000

Expected Founders Series Price: $200,000

Founders Series Reservation: $200,000

* * * * *

As the article says: "That’s quite a bit lower than expectations." In fact, it's so low that some speculate in comments (to the article linked above) that the price does not include the battery pack. I don't think so, because I don't think there is any reason for the base price for the longer-range Semi Truck to be higher than the standard one, except for the bigger battery pack.

But it certainly is confusing for Tesla to say that most of the expected cost savings will come from platooning and autonomous driving eliminating the cost of the driver. With those prices plus the per-mile savings in cost of electricity over fuel, truckers should have no problem getting lower operating costs with Tesla's BEV Semi Truck vs. a standard diesel semi tractor, even without platooning or eliminating the truck driver.

My overview of the subject: We seem to still be missing some pieces of this puzzle. There is still a lot of room for speculation here.

 

[101101]

Ok, that makes more sense. Yeah, $75 kWh at the cell level is what I've personally been guessing.

What if it means $75 khw at pak level by 2019. What would that mean for Model 3 prices?

Some speculation Tesla would never have to make a cheaper car just based on autonomous electric peers.

Elon said he expects high margins on the truck due to Model 3 part use.

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

An actual ex-trucker weighs in with some reality checks regarding Tesla's claims for it Semi Truck:

"This ex-trucker has some questions about the Tesla Semi"

It's going to be interesting to see if Tesla can usefully replace external mirrors with cameras. I see no practical reason why it can't, altho using only two video screens may not be adequate for seeing all the views that are needed. And as Tesla gradually moves toward fully autonomous driving, mirrors are going to become less and less needed or useful.

Not to contradict the real-world experience of this ex-trucker, but his experience is not really relevant to Tesla's ultimate goal of a fully autonomous truck. What he's talking about is the current state-of-the-art of trucking using current diesel tractors, with very little automation (maybe cruise control), not where Tesla wants the state-of-the-art to be in 2-3 years, when it plans to put its Semi Truck into production.

However, he's absolutely right about Tesla's claims that "jack-knifing is impossible". I dinged Elon Musk for that obviously false claim immediately, when I first heard it. Basic physics simply don't support that. Hit a large patch of ice or an oil slick on the road, or if either the tractor or the trailer hydroplanes, and all the traction control in the world isn't going to prevent inertia from taking its inevitable course. Tesla may well be able to reduce the incidence of jack-knifing; perhaps reduce the odds substantially. But they will never completely eliminate the danger by using nothing more than ABS and traction control.