Tesla Electric Truck News

[fxfymn]

Quote

This makes me think about how once a builder or industry starts down a path it almost never varies from it. Trucks have always been powered by a hydrocarbon fueled engine driving direct power to the drive wheels. Yet locomotives used diesel engines to power electric motors when they had the chance to re-engineer their product when steam faded out. Could diesel/electric be better for trucks? We'll probably never know since truck builders have so much invested in the current way of building they have little incentive to change.

They are trying electric motors at each wheel like a diesel electric locomotive. Guess I was wrong about no one trying it.

[fjh]

SOOOO !I wonder  what kind of warranty are we  offering with this unit!

[Maxidyne]

Direct drive is doable with AC motors, iffy with DC. For decades the diesel-electric locomotives were pure DC, but they had to limit current when starting a heavy load to keep the motors from burning up. Locomotives went to AC as high power inverters and rectifiers became available, but the cost to upgrade from DC to AC motors was around a million $$$ on top of the million and a half $$$ cost of a DC drive locomotive. They've got the upcharge down to about half that now and with the price increases to become Tier 4 compliant, most new locomotives are being built with AC drive. But for a couple hundred thousand dollar truck, the upcharge for the high power inverters and rectifiers to provide direct drive might be a deal killer.

[Lmackattack]

On 11/27/2017 at 9:02 PM, kscarbel2 said:

Certainly stop-and-go situations like refuse and municipal transit are great targets, given the frequent ability to regenerate, and make brake shoe replacement a rarity.

I can see air brakes becoming a thing of the past on Electric trucks if they advance building on them. I can see weight savings being a major issue with the added weight of electric motors on all corners. A electric motor can act as just as good as a Air brake all depending how well you can control them. they may even have better stopping power if every wheel, including trailer wheels were powered.At that point why even have air brakes ?  One thing I have not heard any one talk about is if its feasible to build a electric truck like how a Diesel electric locomotive is. I would like to know if there is any benefit for a truck to have a smaller diesel that powers a generator that make on demand electricity to move a fully loaded truck over a highway. I dont think trucks that we see it are going out of style any time soon but my grandfather once said to me that he came in to this world riding a horse and buggy and 90 years later had watched us put a man on the moon and people living  in space

....

[41chevy]

Daimler and Cummins already have electric semis in the works and operating on their ow chassis. These "Tesla semis" displayed are mounted on a diesel semi chases.
Tesla is comparing his trucks to diesels , where the competition will come from is a half dozen  manufacturers who will be electrifying their trucks. Tesla buys the drive trains and battery designs from others - any truck maker can do anything Tesla can do. . Musk is mostly bluster and , more often makes exaggerated claims of performance and ranges.

Why is Musk building a recharge network using his a protocol that no one else uses? The world will have a lot of EV models out there before 2021 and they all use CCS, which can recharge twice as fast as Tesla's supercharger stations. They are being placed everywhere by many municipalities and major businesses. We shall see what comes to pass in the real world.

 

[kscarbel2]

Anheuser-Busch Orders 40 Tesla Semi Tractors

Jack Roberts, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  December 7, 2017

Tesla’s new Semi electric truck got a big boost this week when Anheuser-Busch announced it has placed an order for 40 of the new regional haul tractors, which are slated to go into production next year.

The brewing giant said the move is part of a company-wide strategy to employ cutting-edge technology to reduce the environmental impact and increase the efficiency of its operations.

The 40 tractors, which represent one of Tesla’s largest reported pre-orders, will be fully electric-powered and equipped with autonomous driving capabilities, as part of the company’s commitment to improving road safety and reducing carbon emissions.

Integrating the Tesla trucks into the brewer’s distribution network will help Anheuser-Busch achieve its commitment to reduce its operational carbon footprint by 30% by 2025 – the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road globally each year.

“At Anheuser-Busch, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our supply chain more sustainable, efficient, and innovative,” said James Sembrot, senior director of Logistics Strategy. “This investment in Tesla semi-trucks helps us achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact.”

Anheuser-Busch also said the Tesla technology will also improve safety and efficiency, particularly for truck drivers while they are operating these vehicles, and will help ensure drivers continue to play a central role in beer distribution far into the future.

Anheuser-Busch said it has long been a pioneer and industry leader in supporting innovative technology in its transportation operations to build a more sustainable and efficient beer distribution network.

In addition to its partnership with Tesla, and a range of other recent investments in its transportation operations, Anheuser-Busch is also working with a number of innovative companies. These include Nikola, to develop and implement hydrogen-powered engines within its network; Otto and Uber Freight, to test autonomous driving technology, and Convoy, to access on-demand trucking capacity. 

In 2016, an Otto truck carrying 51,744 cans of Budweiser completed an autonomous truckload shipment from Anheuser-Busch’s Fort Collins, Colorado brewery to a wholly owned distributorship in Colorado Springs, a distance of 132 miles, marking the first-ever commercial beer delivery using autonomous driving technology.

“We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road, and keep leading our industry forward to a greener, smarter future in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Sembrot.  “The transportation industry is evolving fast, and we’re really excited to play a leadership role in driving this evolution by integrating these new technologies across our network.”

[fxfymn]

Quote

I would like to know if there is any benefit for a truck to have a smaller diesel that powers a generator that make on demand electricity to move a fully loaded truck over a highway

An engine running at constant speed riving an electrical generator is more efficient than the same engine driving a gear drive that is constantly changing speeds to match the vehicle speed. Thus a smaller HP engine can provide the power to move the load. The question will be, as others here have said, will they be able to make up for the added weight of the drive motors and batteries, and the energy loss of controllers and wiring to make it more efficient overall.

[BC Mack]

As I've said in other posts, none of this "breakthrough" technology is new, in fact some of it is 100 years old... it is the advancement in materials and controls that have brought this back into vogue...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilling-Stevens

petrol-electric and battery electric were commonplace before advancements to diesels in the early 30's made them less efficient.... though they soldiered on as light industrial machines until this "re-discovery" of late.

today's decision makers need to formulate a singular national plan to standardize a grid of support if we are to advance to electric power... do we have enough grid power now and in the future to support this change away from fossil fuel, and do we want the cost to provide this energy to be more than it can be sold for, will the public purse be financing it.... and taxation will follow as the government needs a replacement revenue stream as gasoline/diesel sales fall...

fleet and bus management have a tough decision to make as to which technology and supplier to work with, bus fleet planning math is a 20 year life for a city bus so will the supplier support this and are the leaps in technology going to obsolete the fleet in 8-10 years?... tough call...

BC Mack

 

[41chevy]

http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/fuel-smarts/news/story/2016/05/mack-is-testing-a-hybrid-drayage-truck-at-socal-ports.aspx

 

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/trucks/trucks-accessories/heavy-trucks-class-7-8/article/20985192/mack-demonstrates-plugin-hybrid-truck

 

Mack built and tested Gas/Electric Hi-bred AC trucks in the late 1920's also.

[grayhair]

We don't need no stinking Tesla truck.  Afterall, Nikola will have his 300 strategically placed hydrogen refueling stations opening up in just a couple more weeks.  

[Swishy]

MHO Sez

it will cum ...electric trucks

but dun B the 1st with one ......  wait a few years till they get the bugs out of m

let sum one else B the guinea pig ....... coz it could brake U ifn they B a lemon

A salesman will only tell U wot U wanna hear  to make a sale

Q:? do they take AA or AAA bateries LOL

 

 

LOL

cya

§wishy

 

[kscarbel2]

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45757-final-preparations-for-the-world’s-first-electric-road-project/?tab=comments#comment-337347

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47935-scania-tests-fast-wireless-charging-in-urban-traffic/?tab=comments#comment-354378

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/49720-scania-electrification-projects-from-hybrids-to-wireless-charging/?tab=comments#comment-368997

 

[fxfymn]

I saw a small news blurb somewhere this week that Toyota is going to create a hydrogen charging station at the Port of Los Angeles by using cow manure as a fuel source. Supposedly this is to fuel a class 8 hydrogen fuel cell powered truck they have developed and will be importing.

[Lmackattack]

The railroads tried hydraulic transmissions in the 60s.

[kscarbel2]

UPS Orders 125 Tesla Semi Electric Trucks

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  December 19, 2017

UPS has announced it has reserved 125 Tesla Semis, the new electric Class 8 truck that was recently unveiled by Elon Musk.

This tops the recent 100-truck order announced by PepsiCo in November and represents the largest publicly known order for the electric truck yet.

The new tractors will join UPS’s alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet, comprised of trucks and tractors propelled by electricity, natural gas, propane, and other non-traditional fuels.

The first Tesla Semis are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2019, but UPS might not see all of its trucks right away as Tesla has a history of slowly ramping up production of its vehicles. The company only managed to produce 260 of its new Model 3 electric cars in the third quarter of this year. The Model 3 was announced in 2016 and was also initially sold through a reservation system.

The base model Tesla Semi is priced at $150,000 while a version with advertised 500-mile range begins at $180,000. It costs $20,000 to pre-order either model of Tesla Semi -- unless a buyer opts for the special edition Founders Series Tesla Semi, which costs $200,000 to reserve and buy.

“For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations," said Juan Perez, chief information and engineering officer. "We look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla. “These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.”

[kscarbel2]

Tesla books 125 truck order from UPS

Jason Cannon, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ)  /  December 19, 2017

In what has become a weekly passing of the torch, UPS Tuesday confirmed it has placed the largest known reservation for Tesla’s new fully-electric Semi tractor.

UPS’s order of 125 trucks passes PepsiCo who, last week, confirmed the reservation 100 trucks. That bumped Anheuser-Busch‘s 40 trucks from the top order spot.

“For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations, [and] we look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla,” says Juan Perez, chief information and engineering officer. “These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.”

UPS, which operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S., and more than 8,500 vehicles throughout the world, says it has provided Tesla with internal trucking lane information as part of its evaluation of the vehicle’s expected performance during a UPS duty cycle. UPS says it frequently partners with suppliers of emerging vehicle technology to help develop solutions that prove ready for UPS use-cases.

UPS brings the total of known Tesla trucks on the order books to about 400 since the tractor debuted just more than a month ago, although some unconfirmed reports suggest that number could be approaching 1,500 units. Reached Tuesday, Tesla declined to comment on the number of orders received or customers.

A 300-mile variant of the Semi will cost $150,000. A 500-mile model costs $180,000 and a Founders Series will run $200,000, according to Tesla’s website.

A reservation cost for the truck is $20,000, but Founders Series reservations require the full $200,000 asking price upfront.

Food wholesaler Sysco has placed an order for 50 Tesla Semis. J.B. Hunt has 40 Tesla tractors on order and retail giant Wal-Mart also disclosed it has placed reservations for 15 trucks, deploying five in the U.S. and 10 in Canada. Canada is becoming a hotbed for Tesla Semi early orders. Canadian grocery chain Loblaw announced it would order a total of 25 of the new all-electric tractor as it works to convert its entire fleet to battery power by the end of the decade.

[kscarbel2]

Details Emerge on Tesla's Planned Electric Truck Charging Network

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  February 2, 2018

At the Tesla Semi truck launch in Hawthorne, CA, last fall, company CEO Elon Musk made passing reference to planned a network of high-capacity charging stations that would eventually be put in place to recharge his electric trucks and extend their daily range. Details on that network were sparse, however.

Now, Reuters has learned that Musk and Tesla are collaborating with several logistics leaders in North America to put the beginnings of that charging network in place. According to a report from Reuters today, Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo and United Parcel Service (UPS) are working with the electric truck builder to construct on-site charging terminals at their facilities as Tesla ramps up production of its new truck next year. These firms are among nine major logistics providers in North America that have placed pre-orders for the new electric truck.

According to the report, details of the deal are still under negotiation, but will include design and engineering input from Tesla. Reuters notes that the agreement bolsters Musk’s claims that Tesla can put a charging network in place in time to support the new truck, and is, in fact, working to overcome one of the most widely cited shortcomings in his publically stated plans for the Semi truck. The agreement is also a strong indication that Tesla truck customers are taking both the vehicle and its deployment seriously, and working with the company it insure as smooth a launch as possible once the trucks enter production.

Reuters reports the companies it spoke to indicated their initial effort will be to install charging equipment on their own premises, with the first Tesla Semis deployed on routes that will return them to their home base at the end of a daily run, before the batteries run down.

Reuters also noted in the report that Tesla is also working on establishing its own network of electric truck stops, which will sell electric charges to truckers. Tesla already operates more than 1,100 “supercharger” stations globally for drivers of its passenger cars. Musk noted during the Semi launch last fall Tesla intends to construct a network of solar-powered “megachargers” that he said could recharge a Semi truck battery in as little as 30 minutes.

However, the report also noted that Tesla is “stretched thing and burning cash,” raising more questions as to how quickly the company is capable of putting the planned truck-oriented charging network in place. Some analysts and trucking executives, the report adds, doubt that Tesla can deliver the Semi in 2019, much less a vast charging infrastructure to support it.

[kscarbel2]

Tesla can produce 100,000 electric Class 8 trucks a year: CEO

Trailer-Body Builders  /  February 12, 2018

Tesla will produce at least 100,000 of its new Class 8 electric Semis a year within four years, company founder and CEO Elon Musk predicted.

Speaking on the company’s quarterly earnings conference call with analysts a day after his dramatic SpaceX rocket launch, Musk also said Tesla “might be able to exceed the specs that we unveiled last year,” though he did not expand on those comments.

He did, however, stress that “100,000 units a year is a reasonable expectation. Maybe more, but that's the right – roughly the right number, I think.”

In November, Tesla unveiled the electric Class 8 truck, and said prices will start at $150,000 for a model with a 300-mile range, and $180,000 for a 500-mile range.

During the conference call, Philippe Jean Houchois of Jefferies International Ltd. inquired whether a surge of energy in slowing down or braking the truck would be too much for a battery to absorb, and whether Tesla was considering using a super capacitor.

Musk responded that “lithium-ion chemistry is so good at this point that capacitors will not be needed.”

Jeffrey B. Straubel, Tesla’s chief technical officer, chimed in that “the power to energy demand on the battery in the heavy truck is actually generally less than in our performance vehicles.”

Musk also said a self-driving Tesla car will attempt a trip to New York from Los Angeles within the next six months. Previously, he said Tesla would complete that test trip in 2017.

Musk reiterated his belief that Lidar is not required to autonomous driving. Lidar, the technology used by numerous firm involved in autonomous driving, is short for light detection and ranging.

Instead, Tesla will rely on cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. 

“Now perhaps I am wrong,” Musk said. “In which case, I'll look like a fool. But I am quite certain that I am not.”

[kscarbel2]

FedEx Orders 20 Tesla Semis

Transport Topics  /  March 27, 2018

FedEx Corp has ordered 20 of the Tesla Semi electric trucks for its FedEx Freight less-than-truckload unit.

“Our investment in these trucks is part of our commitment to improving road safety while also reducing our environmental impact,” FedEx Freight CEO Mike Ducker said.

Tesla launched the Semi in November with a $150,000 base price for a tractor with a 300-mile range and an $180,000 base price for a version with a 500-mile range. Production is scheduled for 2019, and $20,000 is required to reserve a truck. That suggests FedEx put down $400,000 for its 20-truck order.

Tesla has said its truck will deliver a better experience for drivers, increase safety and provide $200,000 or more in fuel savings and a payback period of two years.

The Semi features surround cameras and onboard sensors, automatic emergency braking, automatic lane keeping and lane departure warning.

Fleet operators including J.B. Hunt Transport Services, NFI Industries and Bison Transport Inc,. and retailers Meijer and Loblaw Cos. confirmed that they have pre-ordered the truck or plan to do so.

Logistics firm also have been interested. DHL Supply Chain ordered 10 trucks to test at customer facilities in major U.S. cities, and  XPO Logistics reportedly was involved with testing the vehicle last year.

[kscarbel2]

Tesla seeks ATIS patent for its Semi

Kevin Jones, Trailer-Body Builder  /  November 1, 2018

In another indication that the Tesla Semi is not just an elaborate stunt to generate investor interest, or a whim project from mercurial founder Elon Musk, Tesla Inc. is seeking a patent for an automatic tire inflation system that will “overcome the shortcomings” of systems currently on the market, the company says.

The recently published application, originally submitted April 13 to the US Patent and Trademark Office, is designed to “significantly reduce contamination” in the ATIS air stream.

“With some prior art techniques, air was fed through hollow drive axles to a fitting located on the end thereof. The fitting was then coupled to the air inlets of the tires,” the description reads. “To couple the air into the hollow drive axles, a rotatingly attached fitting coupled air from an air storage to the inside of the hollow axles. This fitting was subject to leakage of contaminants. These contaminants interfered with the operation of the ATIS and eventually caused the ATIS to fail.”

The Tesla ATIS, in contrast, includes a controller, valves controlled by the controller, the valves having an air supply inlet, and “a plurality of air outlets.”

“Further,” the application says, “the ATIS includes, for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings, a channel formed in a spindle, first hosing coupling a valve of the valves controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle, a channel formed in a hub, a rotary air seal residing between the inner bearings and the outer bearings and coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel.”

For those readers to whom this language makes sense, the complete document is available from USPTO. For everyone else, the application drawings with brief descriptions are included above.

The Semi received only passing mention in Tesla’s most recent earnings call, however, as Musk said he was “most excited” about the Tesla pickup truck. “It's like … I think it's going to reach the next-level stuff there.” Also on the Oct. 24 call, Musk said he had approved the Model Y entry-level crossover for production, with full production slated for 2020.

[kscarbel2]

Grocery Giant Plans to Buy 10 Tesla Electric Tractors

Heavy Duty Truckiing (HDT)  /  November 26, 2018

Food and drug retailer Albertsons has announced plans to purchase 10 Tesla all-electric Semi tractors for its Southern California stores.

The electric trucks will be added to its fleets under the Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions names. Albertsons said the Semi models will be able to travel 300 to 500 miles on a single charge fully loaded, and use less than 2 kilowatt hours of energy per mile.

This suggests that the company may be buying both the base model Semi. which Tesla said\ will have a range of 300 miles, and the more expensive extended range model with a 500-mile range. The base model lists for $150,000 and the extended range model for $180,000.

“Advancing supply chain efficiency and sustainability is an important goal for our company,” said Tom Nartker, vice president of transportation at Albertsons. “We’re excited to pilot this expansion of our transportation program with trucks that help us limit our overall carbon footprint.”

The Tesla Semi purchase is part of Albertsons’ commitment to running a safe, sustainable fleet at its 2,300 stores across the country. The company is a partner and supporter of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program and its fleet of more than 1,400 trucks is SmartWay certified. The company also said that 92% of its trucks operated by third-party carriers are SmartWay certified.

[kscarbel2]

Tesla Semi Electric Truck Production Pushed to 2020

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  April 26. 2019

During Tesla’s first quarter 2019 earnings call, the company indicated that production of the Tesla Semi would begin in 2020, later than the initial projection of 2019.

During the call, Jerome Guillen, president of automotive and head of the Tesla Semi program, indicated that production would begin next year, the first confirmation from the OEM that it had been pushed back.

Guillen also confirmed that the Tesla Semi’s powertrains would be built at the company’s Gigafactory in Nevada.

Tesla announced the Semi in 2017, and offered $20,000 pre-orders for the battery-electric trucks. The base model, which features a 300-mile range will list for $150,000, while the extended range model, with a 500-mile range, will list for $180,000.

Companies that were among the first high-profile fleets to announce orders  for the Tesla Semi.include FedEx, PepsiCo, Albertsons, Anheuser-Busch, J.B. Hunt, and Wal-Mart.

[kscarbel2]

Trump praises Musk, wants to protect 'genius'

Bloomberg  /  January 22, 2020

President Donald Trump on Wednesday marveled at the success of Elon Musk, along with automaker Tesla and his rocket company, SpaceX. 

“He does good at rockets too, by the way,” the president said of Musk. “I never saw where the engines come down with no wings, no anything, and they’re landing.” Trump expressed surprise at Tesla’s resurgence since overcoming manufacturing difficulties with its Model 3 sedan last year.

“I was worried about him, because he’s one of our great geniuses, and we have to protect our genius,” Trump said. “You know, we have to protect Thomas Edison and we have to protect all of these people that came up with originally the light bulb and the wheel and all of these things.”

Trump indicated he had taken note of the recent surge in Tesla’s stock price after it reported a surprise quarterly profit and opened a factory in China. Tesla’s market value climbed above Volkswagen AG’s for the first time to more than $100 billion.

“I mean, you go back a year and they were talking about the end of the company,” Trump said. “And now all of a sudden they’re talking about these great things.”

Trump also said he expects Tesla to build another plant in the U.S.. 

[kscarbel2]

Tesla's Musk Tells Employees it's Time to Push Semi Production

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  June 10, 2020

Tesla shares topped $1,000 for the first time on June 10, as reports surfaced that the company is pushing to ramp up production of its electric heavy-duty Semi truck.

According to Reuters, Tesla chief Elon Musk told his staff in an email Tuesday before the market opened that it was time to “go all out” to bring the Tesla Semi commercial truck to “volume production,” but he didn’t specify a time frame.

Just a month and a half ago, Musk said in an earnings call that the long-awaited battery-electric truck wouldn’t be in production until 2021.

Tesla’s shares rose about 6% to hit $1,000 on Wednesday after Reuters reported Musk’s email. Reuters noted that Musk’s message coincided with a surge in the share price of rival electric-truck maker Nikola. Nikola on Wednesday announced it had hired former Tesla executive Mark Duchesne to head its manufacturing and former Caterpillar exec Pablo Koziner to head its hydrogen fueling and battery recharging business.

Apparently in response to the latest news about the Semi, Nikola founder Trevor Milton tweeted, “I love the competition!” and touted the Nikola fuel-cell truck’s lighter weight.

The two companies also appear to be in a battle as to who will have a zero-emissions pickup on the market first, the Tesla CyberTruck or the Nikola Badger. Nikola recently announced it is opening up reservations for its Badger electric pickup truck on June 29.

“This is Elon making noise because of Nikola,” Ben Kallo, an analyst at Robert W. Baird, told Bloomberg. He said other factors are fueling the Tesla stock’s gain, including strong sales in China and the anticipation of a "Battery Day" event.

Initially, when the Tesla Semi was introduced in 2017, Musk announced production would begin in 2019. Companies such as Anheuser-Busch, J.B. Hunt, Fedex and UPS put in orders. Over the next year, Tesla Semis were spotted along highways and details started to emerge on an electric truck charging network. Then, in April 2019, during Tesla’s first-quarter earnings call, company officials indicated that production would begin in 2020. This was pushed back further in January, when a leaked email sent by Tesla to a company that had reserved one of the Semis reportedly said production would begin in the second half of 2020, with a limited run.

[CaptainCrutch]

News I’ve read says Tesla Semi production line is currently being built, and they hope to start producing the trucks by the end of the year or early next year. It’ll be interesting to how they do in the industry...