Production of the Tesla Semi began after its official unveiling in 2017 and the first examples were delivered to customers in late 2022. Despite not being the target customer, Jay Leno had the opportunity to test drive the battery-powered semi-trailer truck for an episode of his online series, “Jay Leno’s Garage.”
The Tesla Semi was brought to Leno’s California garage by Tesla design boss Franz von Holzhausen and Tesla senior manager of semi-truck engineering Dan Priestley. During their visit, Priestley explains the genesis of the project, which originated from former Tesla CTO JB Straubel. Straubel felt that using diesel trucks to transport battery packs from Tesla’s Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, to its vehicle plant in Fremont, California, contradicted the company’s goal of zero-emission transportation. With encouragement from another Tesla executive with experience at truck maker Freightliner, the idea eventually evolved into a full-scale project.
Despite Tesla’s lack of prior experience with commercial vehicles, the design process for the Semi was influenced by input from truck drivers. For instance, the front corners of the Semi were designed to be easily repairable as they are the most likely to sustain damage. Additionally, the Semi’s ride height matches that of a diesel truck, but the designers made efforts to improve accessibility by adding suicide doors. According to Priestley, falling off a truck is the leading cause of trucker worker’s compensation claims, making the advancements in accessibility crucial. The center driver’s seat also enhances visibility, as claimed by the Tesla team.
Tesla offers two versions of the Semi, one with a range of 300 miles and another with 500 miles. The energy consumption is advertised to be less than 2 kilowatt-hours per mile, and the Semi can restore 70% of its range through DC fast charging in just 30 minutes. Priestley claims that Tesla is using the trucks to transport batteries from Nevada to California on the same schedules as diesel trucks. Furthermore, the company asserts that operators can save $200,000 in fuel costs alone over three years, making the Semi an attractive option for businesses.
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The Semi is equipped with a three-motor powertrain that enables it to maintain highway speed limits even up a 5% grade. Tesla claims that the truck can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 20.0 seconds while hauling its maximum gross weight of 82,000 pounds. Without any trailer, the tractor can achieve the same acceleration in just 5.0 seconds. The accuracy of these claims is not challenged during Leno’s test drive, although it is worth noting that the Semi tows another Semi during the test, resulting in a gross weight of approximately 60,000 to 70,000 pounds.
Although production was initially scheduled to commence in 2019, it was delayed due to limited availability of battery cells, supply chain issues, and the decision to prioritize Model Y production at Tesla’s Texas factory. Deliveries of the Tesla Semi began in December 2022, with Priestley revealing that 60 to 70 trucks have been built since then. Tesla intends to gather feedback and implement changes before scaling up production. To accommodate expanded Semi production, Tesla’s Nevada plant is undergoing a $3.6 billion upgrade.
In conclusion, the Tesla Semi is making strides in the commercial vehicle industry with its innovative design and impressive performance capabilities. As Tesla continues to refine its production processes and gather feedback from customers, the future looks promising for electric trucks like the Semi.
