Electric vehicle giant Tesla made an appearance at the 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT) from May 20 to 23, reassuring industry followers that the Semi project is still on track.
Early reviews offer a glimpse into Tesla Semi’s capabilities
Tesla Semi Senior Manager Dan Priestley emphasized Tesla’s commitment to electrifying the trucking industry, saying that the company “look forward to bringing our experience with EVs and supporting infrastructure to tackle electric heavy trucking at scale.”
During the 2024 ACT Expo, Senior Manager Priestley announced that an extra 50 Tesla Semi units would join PepsiCo’s truck fleet. This news follows reports that Costco and Walmart have also launched pilot programs.
Moreover, Tesla also offered hands-on and test-ride experiences at the 2024 ACT Expo. For instance, YouTube channel Out of Spec Reviews reviewer Kyle had an opportunity to test the Tesla Semi closely for the first time. The EV reviewer offered a good overview of the Tesla Semi’s features and performance, although the presentation lacked specific technical information.
Tesla Semi’s enticing features unveiled
Out of Spec Reviews’ Kyle demonstrated the Tesla Semi’s storage area behind the main cabin. An exterior hatch at the back of the main cabin door provides access to the said storage.
Despite its generous cabin space, the Tesla Semi lacks dedicated storage. Therefore, the storage solution behind the main cabin will undoubtedly be useful for drivers.
Kyle also showed the Semi’s Megawatt Charging System (MCS) port, which transmits an astounding 3.75 megawatts of power to large EVs like Tesla’s Class 8 electric truck. Future production units will reportedly feature the latest MCS v.3 design, unlike the early units’ v.2 plug.
The presented Tesla Semi reportedly achieved an impressive efficiency of 1.7 kWh per mile over the past 1,800 miles. While it remains unclear if this rate was with or without cargo, it still aligns with Tesla’s promises for the truck’s performance when hauling freight.
Power
YouTube channel TFL’s Andre was able to record his experience while riding the Tesla Semi despite not being the one behind the wheel.
As of now, the long-range variant remains the only version that has entered production. It features a huge 850 – 900 kWh battery pack and a tri-motor configuration that yields more than 1,000 horsepower.
It also has a single motor “efficiency drive” axle at the rear, which operates nonstop. At the front, it has a dual-motor “torque-drive” axle to enable most of its power under heavy load when necessary.
“I got to say, it seems very refined. Very nice as far as how the cab is built, the accessibility of it, the capability of it.”
TFL’s Andre
However, he asserted that the megawatt charging’s restrictions block the Semi’s current potential.
“I would say for shorter trips, it’s hard to beat. For cross-country trips, it’s a different story.”
TFL’s Andre
Considering these significant advancements, Tesla is now set to kick off Semi’s volume production in 2026. It aims to produce as many as 50,000 units a year.
