Tesla's 18-wheeler Semi can travel 500 miles on one charge. Look inside.

Publish date: 2024-07-27

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Tesla first announced its 18-wheeler semi truck in 2017, and made its first Semi delivery five years later to Pepsi after several 18-wheeler production delays.

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Officially named the Tesla Semi, it's the EV maker's first offering beyond passenger vehicles.

"If you're a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it," Elon Musk said last December.

 

There are two versions which, while fully loaded to an 87,000 lbs. capacity, have maximum ranges of either 300 or 500 miles.

While there are already some Tesla Semis on the road, its pricing is unclear.

In 2017, Tesla said the shorter-range electric vehicle cost would be $150,000, and the 500-mile Semi would cost $180,000. 

The sleek interior design features one central seat with two 15-inch screens to the left and right of the steering wheel.

As well as providing information about the 18-wheeler's speed and battery level, they display a nearly 360-degree view thanks to four cameras that help the driver avoid blind spots.

The Tesla Semi's interior. Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

The semi doesn't come with a sleeper cab because it's designed for day trips. Tesla said it could be charged up to 70% in 30 minutes. That could bring huge benefits for companies wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.

Anheuser-Busch, Walmart, and UPS are among the big companies ordering the vehicle.

Tesla Semi's recharging at the Frito-Lay production facility. Andy Alfaro/The Modesto Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Tesla Semis branded with the Frito-Lay logo have been spotted on the roads around the facility, but several of these had apparently broken down. 

Then in March, Tesla recalled 35 of its Semis because of a risk that its parking brake could fail and cause the truck to roll away.

Musk said in a 2018 Tesla earnings call that about 2,000 Tesla Semis had been reserved, but it's unclear how many have been ordered.

"We haven't really tried to sell the Semi. It's not like there's like an ongoing sales effort," the Tesla CEO added. "Orders for Semi are like opportunistic, really companies approaching us."

But there are still big expectations because the company aims for 50,000 Tesla Semis in North America by 2024, Musk said in a 2022 earnings call.

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