On 1st December 2022, Tesla made history by delivering the first electric Semitruck to the first customer, Pepsi Co.

The class 8 truck has a total power output 3 times higher than any diesel truck on the road. It accelerates from 0 to 96 km per hour in just 20 seconds when fully loaded.

A video from internal testing confirmed that overtaking a diesel truck on the track was very easy and fast for the 36 ton Tesla truck, driving uphill on a 6% gradient.

Electric trucks in the USA can be loaded with 900 kg more than diesel trucks, while in the EU they can be about 2,000 kg heavier. Tesla’s tests showed that the 36 ton electric truck drove 800 km on a single charge.

The Tesla Semi is equipped with a new 3-motor system consisting of three independent electric motors. The electric motors have carbon-sleeved rotors—the same as in Tesla Model S and Model X Plaid. As in Tesla’s passenger models, they are small, about the size of a basketball, which is impressive.

The first rear axle has one electric motor, which is constantly engaged through a single-speed reduction gear and optimized for highway driving. Two other electric motors are used on the rear axle to drive the left and right wheels individually.

The rear axle motors are optimized for acceleration and torque. Depending on the circumstances, the two rear motors are automatically and seamlessly engaged or disengaged mechanically from the drive axle to minimize energy losses.

While most heavy-duty truck trips are shorter than 800 km, Tesla wanted long-distance hauls to be sustainable as well. Combined trucks, of which the vast majority are semi-trailers, make up only 1.1% of the total fleet of vehicles on the roads in the USA.

However, because combination trucks have high fuel consumption due to their weight and heavy use, they account for approximately 20% of all vehicle emissions in the US.

Electrification of the heavy-duty vehicle segment is an important part of the world’s transition to sustainable energy, and Tesla is making an important contribution that will ultimately change the rules for the entire trucking industry.

SOURCE:
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2022/12/11/global-tech-tesla-tri-motor-semitruck-is-the-behemoth-that-will-change-the-trucking-industry/

Now, let's compare the all-electric Tesla Semi truck with traditional diesel trucks...

TRUCK COMPARISON: TESLA VS DIESEL

A. PERFORMANCE
1. Without a trailer Tesla Semi achieves 0-96 kmph in 5 seconds, vs 15 seconds in a comparable diesel truck.

2. With a full 36 ton load it does 0-96 kmph in 20 seconds vs approx 60 seconds for a diesel.

3. It climbs a 5% slope at a steady 105 kmph vs 72 kmph for a diesel.

4. Tesla Semi requires no shifting or clutching for smooth acceleration and deceleration, and its regenerative braking recovers 98% of kinetic energy to the battery, giving it a basically infinite brake life.

TESLA SEMI VS DIESEL TRUCK cont'd.

B. DRIVER’S CABIN
Unlike other trucks, the Semi’s cabin is designed specifically around the driver, featuring

1. Unobstructed stairs for easier entry and exit,

2. Full standing room inside the cabin (6.5 feet high),

3. A centered driver position for optimal visibility.

4. Two touchscreen displays positioned symmetrically on both sides of the driver provide easy access to navigation, blind spot monitoring and electronic data logging.

5. Built-in connectivity integrates directly with a fleet’s management system to support routing and scheduling, and remote monitoring.

Diesel trucks today currently require several 3rd party devices for similar functionality as in 4 and 5 above.

TESLA SEMI VS DIESEL TRUCK cont'd.

C. RECHARGING / REFUELLING
1. Megachargers (a new high-speed DC charging solution) will add about 640 km range in 30 minutes, versus 10 to 15 minutes to fuel a diesel truck for a 1,000 km range.

2. Megachargers for electric trucks can be installed at origin or destination points and along heavily trafficked routes, enabling recharging during loading, unloading, and driver breaks. Diesel trucks are only fuelled at commercial or in-house fuel stations.

TESLA SEMI VS DIESEL TRUCK cont'd.

D. SAFETY FEATURES

The Tesla Semi’s all-electric architecture is designed to have a higher safety standard than any other heavy-duty truck on the market, with a

1. Reinforced battery that shields the Semi from impact and gives it an exceptionally low center of gravity,

2. Its windshield made of impact resistant glass,

3. Jackknifing prevention due to the Semi's onboard sensors which detect instability and react with positive or negative torque to each wheel while independently actuating all brakes,

4. The surround cameras which aid object detection and minimize blind spots, automatically alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles,

5. Enhanced Autopilot,

6. Automatic Emergency Braking,

7. Automatic Lane Keeping,

8. Lane Departure Warning, and

9. Event recording.

No diesel truck is built with any of the above safety features.