Tesla enthusiasts and prospective customers will soon hear a lot more about the highly awaited Tesla Semi, particularly its actual performance. PepsiCo will deploy at least one of its Semi units into the three-week Run on Less Electric Depot (RoL-E Depot) trucking industry competition beginning September 11, Automotive News reports.
For context, PepsiCo was Tesla’s first customer for the Semi. Its California headquarters received the first 36 of a 100-truck order in February. The soft drink firm rolled out 15 of the Semis in Modesto while the other 21 units were deployed in Sacramento.
RoL-E Depot to test Semi’s maximum payload for hundred miles
RoL-E Depot is a special event demonstrating freight technology progress and testing trucking-related products’ efficiency. In essence, it will test the Class 8 electric truck at its highest payload for several hundred miles.
PepsiCo’s sustainability and technology director Amanda DeVoe announced that the company will join the event with its Semis and “run ’em hard.”
The Tesla Semi will undergo a maximum payload towing test involving up to 500-mile round trips to gauge its performance limits, which have mostly been kept undisclosed.
The e-truck’s entry to the RoL-E Depot will provide new details about its longevity and efficiency in challenging situations.
Although there was no information about Tesla’s support for the Semi’s use in the event, it seems that the automaker is now ready to unveil more details, as it would be insane if PepsiCo did not seek Tesla’s approval.
In hindsight, Tesla initially stated that the Semi’s efficiency is barely less than 2kWh per mile, which is very efficient for a semi. So far, the EV giant disclosed that the Semi can charge up to 70% in 30 minutes and has a range of 300 to 500 miles. Additionally, it claimed that it could save $200,000 in fuel costs after three years of usage.
How would the event proceed?
Class 3 through Class 8 BEVs that are part of fleets larger than 15 in the US, Canada, and Mexico will arrive at the RoL-E Depot, per US News. They will drive from seven sites in California and one in New York.
“The transition to electric vehicles is about much more than just the trucks themselves. It is about charging, infrastructure, grid capacity, resilience etc. RoL-E Depot, will allow NACFE [ North American Council for Freight Efficiency] share best practices for scaling electric trucks at depots.”
Sponsors of earlier RoL-E Depot
DeVoe also commented at Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in California on May 3 about PepsiCo’s entry to the upcoming RoL-E Depot.
“We’re really excited to participate in the run and allow the industry to have access to the insights and the learnings that we are getting from experiencing these vehicles. We’re gonna run ’em hard. We really want to demonstrate the capability of our team, the capability of the Semi, and the capability of the Class 8 electric vehicle to compete.”
Amanda DeVoe, PepsiCo’s sustainability and technology director
See Also:
- A trip to PepsiCo’s Frito Lay facility unveils Tesla Semi specifications
- New revelations for Tesla Semi’s massive battery system
- PepsiCo confirms plans to deploy 100 Tesla Semis in 2023
- Tesla Semi is finally delivered to its first customer at the company’s event
- Tesla Semi just finished its first 500-mile drive with a full load
The NACFE will host the Run on Less event for the fourth time this year, aiming to demonstrate the recent progress in improving truck freight shipping.
