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Tesla Unveils Semi and Surprises with next-gen Roadster


rmc523

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Semi:

semi-front-34-blue-1.jpg

semi-front-profile-1.jpgsemi-interior-command-1.jpg

 

 

 

Range: "500 miles at maximum weight at highway speed"

Battery capacity: not disclosed
Powertrain: 4 electric motors, 2 at each axle behind the cab
Cargo capacity: 80,000 pounds.
Drag coefficient: 0.36
Autonomous capability: Highway Autopilot, platooning capability
Infrastructure: Megachargers to provide 400 miles of range in 30 minutes
Production: Begins 2019

 

https://www.autoblog.com/2017/11/17/tesla-electric-semi-truck-elon-musk/

 

Roadster:

 

roadster-front-34-1.jpg

roadster-front-58-1.jpg

roadster-rear-34-1.jpg

roadster-steering-wheel-1.jpg

roadster-interior-1.jpg

 

 

 

In addition to unveiling its new electric Semi Truck, Tesla also dished details on its next-generation Roadster. Tesla calls the all-wheel-drive EV the "quickest car in the world," with a claimed 0-60 mile-per-hour time of just 1.9 seconds. The sprint to 100 mph takes only 4.2 seconds, and its top speed is over 250 mph.

Tesla didn't reveal horsepower or kilowatt figures, but said wheel torque is 10,000 Newton-meters, or 7,375 pound-feet. That translates to a quarter-mile time of 8.8 seconds.

Perhaps just as impressive, this four-seat EV will have a driving range of 620 miles on a single charge. Range anxiety, begone! The new Tesla Roadster will also feature a trick glass roof that stows in the trunk.

The car won't come cheap, though. Its base price will be $200,000, though hard-hustling Tesla owners can score one for free through the automaker's referral program. Just to reserve it will cost $50,000. Tesla will launch the Roadster with a Founder's Series model, priced at $250,000 and limited to 1,000 examples.


 

https://www.autoblog.com/2017/11/17/tesla-roadster-second-generation-fastest-car/

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I like them both. Range is awesome! 500 mile range with the ability to get 400 miles of range in 30 minutes is pretty impressive for the semi (assuming you can find a megacharger). Cover the top of the trailer with solar panels and you could conceivable get 9kW of power from the sun (peak intervals) to add a little "free" juice to the battery.

 

Curious...if Tesla goes bankrupt, I'm assuming everyone who put down their deposit is SOL, right?

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The truck looks like a decent effort. Tesla clearly did its homework and showed again that it is a design and engineering powerhouse. However, getting that thing in production is going to be interesting... the words "model 3" were never mentioned last night. It's as if they just don't want to acknowledge that they don't know how to build things in volume.

 

While the truck was a good proof of concept and showed a lot of promise, Tesla also gave very little details that may be important to fleet buyers. Things like GVWR etc. But assuming they've been talking with fleet operators the whole time (sure seems like it), there should be no surprises there. The real deal in my opinion, is when Tesla scales this thing down to a Class 4/5/6 truck platform and go after the meat of the market. If Ford, Daimler, Isuzu and Toyota were not paying attention, they better now. The medium duty market is actually way more ripe for EV application than Class 8 tractors.

 

The Roadster is probably more vaporware than proof of concept right now. Elon didn't elaborate at all on battery specs or how they plan to manufacture this. However, you can put a deposit down!!! It's another interest free loan scheme like the Model 3 deposit.

Edited by bzcat
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Meijer already pre-ordered 6 of the Semis. (Fun fact: I worked at a Meijers in Michigan in my college years)

 

JB Hunt and Walmart apparently have ordered some too.

 

The truck looks like a decent effort. Tesla clearly did its homework and showed again that it is a design and engineering powerhouse. However, getting that thing in production is going to be interesting... the words "model 3" were never mentioned last night. It's as if they just don't want to acknowledge that they don't know how to build things in volume.

 

While the truck was a good proof of concept and showed a lot of promise, Tesla also gave very little details that may be important to fleet buyers. Things like GVWR etc. But assuming they've been talking with fleet operators the whole time (sure seems like it), there should be no surprises there. The real deal in my opinion, is when Tesla scales this thing down to a Class 4/5/6 truck platform and go after the meat of the market. If Ford, Daimler, Isuzu and Toyota were not paying attention, they better now. The medium duty market is actually way more ripe for EV application than Class 8 tractors.

 

The Roadster is probably more vaporware than proof of concept right now. Elon didn't elaborate at all on battery specs or how they plan to manufacture this. However, you can put a deposit down!!! It's another interest free loan scheme like the Model 3 deposit.

 

I don't think it's as much vaporware, as it is a "look over here!" to distract from Model 3 issues.

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Meijer already pre-ordered 6 of the Semis. (Fun fact: I worked at a Meijers in Michigan in my college years)

 

Yes sir. Walmart and J.B. Hunt also placed orders for Tesla truck as rmc523 mentioned. 15 trucks for Walmart, undisclosed number for J.B. Hunt. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-truck-jb-hunt-trans/j-b-hunt-wal-mart-climb-aboard-teslas-electric-truck-idUSKBN1DH1GH

 

Diesel power now has some serious competition! Daimler also announced electric powered heavy duty trucks recently. https://www.daimler.com/innovation/case/electric/efuso-2.html

Edited by rperez817
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I wonder how many taxpayer dollars will subsidize the truck.

 

Tesla hasn't announced participation in projects like DOE SuperTruck II. Companies receiving federal funding under SuperTruck II are currently Cummins, Daimler Trucks NA, Navistar, Volvo Trucks, and Paccar. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/paccar-joins-energy-department-supertruck-ii-initiative

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Tesla hasn't announced participation in projects like DOE SuperTruck II. Companies receiving federal funding under SuperTruck II are currently Cummins, Daimler Trucks NA, Navistar, Volvo Trucks, and Paccar. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/paccar-joins-energy-department-supertruck-ii-initiative

They may not have received funds for its development, but I'm hard-pressed to believe that there won't be taxpayer dollars involved in the purchase of these trucks through subsidies or rebates.

 

The truck itself is not particularly attractive, but the interior looks pretty cool.

Edited by tbone
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Wow, a class 8 truck with 500 mile range strong acceleration and able to recharge to 400 miles in 30 minutes....

 

Maybe Tesla should be focusing more on commercial trucks rather than on lower cost retail EVs...

.

Exactly, how many class 8 tractors are sold annually vs a "mass market" vehicle segment that Model 3 is aimed at...

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.

Exactly, how many class 8 tractors are sold annually vs a "mass market" vehicle segment that Model 3 is aimed at...

As discussed in the Truck thread, getting fleet owners to pay the huge up front costs of a Tesla truck is going to be hard

and made doubly so with incomplete roll out of truck recharging stations nationwide, what use is a $300K ET if you have

insufficient recharge coverage....

 

An electric truck is a great idea but complete obfuscation when tesla can't even ramp up car production,

surviving the current situation, cash burn from ramp up costs and lack of expected revenue at this time

puts the truck and sports car on hold for now....

Edited by jpd80
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As discussed in the Truck thread, getting fleet owners to pay the huge up front costs of a Tesla truck is going to be hard

and made doubly so with incomplete roll out of truck recharging stations nationwide, what use is a $300K ET if you have

insufficient recharge coverage....

 

An electric truck is a great idea but complete obfuscation when tesla can't even ramp up car production,

surviving the current situation, cash burn from ramp up costs and lack of expected revenue at this time

puts the truck and sports car on hold for now....

.

Sounds like it is time for Elon to get his lobbyists out in force in the nation's capitol to persuade Congress to continue the federally funded "build out" of the transportation electrical grid...

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As discussed in the Truck thread, getting fleet owners to pay the huge up front costs of a Tesla truck is going to be hard

and made doubly so with incomplete roll out of truck recharging stations nationwide, what use is a $300K ET if you have

insufficient recharge coverage....

 

An electric truck is a great idea but complete obfuscation when tesla can't even ramp up car production,

surviving the current situation, cash burn from ramp up costs and lack of expected revenue at this time

puts the truck and sports car on hold for now....

 

About 45% of the class 8 semi trucks sales in the US are day cabs, meaning they are never driven long distances. That number is even higher if you include class 6 and 7 tractors (i.e. like Ford-650/750) that are used by distributors of all kinds for regional transportation. You don't need a nationwide network of chargers to operate EV trucks. Just like you don't need a nationwide network of charges to operate EV cars (since most people never travel that far by car anyway). BTW, it's a lot easier to setup nationwide truck recharging network than for cars... most of the cross country truck routes are already covered by truck stops.

 

500 miles range is plenty for fixed route fleet operators like Walmart, McDonald's, beer/beverage distributors, or ironically... gas refiners. Trucks will recharge overnight at regional distribution centers and top up at delivery locations (stores) while it is being loaded and unloaded.

 

The production issue is another matter... Tesla still hasn't shown that it can make anything in high volume. But the boutique nature of class 8 trucks may actually be better business for Tesla than building 500,000 cars.

Edited by bzcat
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Don't know why they don't look at diesel/electrics for class 8 trucks. Just like a locomotive-diesel spinning the generator and traction motors in axles-eliminates transmission and differentials. This was done in heavy construction equipment 60 years ago by R. G. Letourneau and now Cat has a diesel electric dozer-the D7E.

 

You would eliminate the charging station issue and have some of the other benefits associated with component elimination and the regenerative braking savings.

 

Anyone know if any of class 8 builders have looked at this option?

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