Tesla Plans For New Semi

Not trying to start a huge debate here, I'm just curious what some experienced truckers think about Tesla's foray into the trucking industry.

http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-semi-will-shake-trucking-industry-roots/

All sides of the conversation are welcome.

Hi Jake. I just posted about this yesterday I think it was.

I for one am all for it. It can't hurt the industry at all. Look at it this way. If they succeed then they are providing clean tractors and are helping pave the way for alternate fuel sources in the transportation industry. If they fail then no harm done.

It will be a tough industry to break into with an all electric truck considering how ingrained diesel is in the infrastructure. Not to mention the competition from top trusted trucking brands like Cummings, Detroit, Cat, Freightliner, Peterbilt, etc.

I for one am more excited about the Nikola One semi set to debut next year. If they can get the figures they have on paper into real world situations then they can be on to something. Check it out here...

https://nikolamotor.com/one

That's awesome, I haven't seen it til now. I would love to try one out.

Diesel power cannot touch electric motors for torque. Pulling 45,000 pounds from a dock would be a piece of cake. At a green light a truck wouldn't block traffic.

Problem is, like the article states, a semi truck would require another truck to haul the batteries needed. Oh, well!

All good points here. Thanks for the input so far everyone.

Errol, If you read the website, you will see that there is a CNG turbine used to charge the batteries. While it is an electric vehicle, it runs on Compressed Natural Gas.

I read the part about batteries, but not the part about gas turbines. That's the same idea as diesel electric locomotives. You're, baby, torque!

I for one am more excited about the Nikola One semi set to debut next year. If they can get the figures they have on paper into real world situations then they can be on to something. Check it out here...

https://nikolamotor.com/one

Heavy- Yes, I agree- Nikola- fanastic! Prototype ready Dec 2016. I would think production run would be ready in 4+ years, (6+ years wouldn't surprise me) in order to work the bugs out of test trucks.

I am amazed at the battery- SUPER NEAT! 32,000 individual lithium-ion cells welded together on the Nikola One™, resulting in a 320 kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack. I worked for Boeing- we had major improvements that we had to make on our new 787 Composite plane with lithium-ion battery- bigger battery of course- enough wattage to light up 500 houses. We had a complete redesign of battery, had a couple fires on the first planes- cells were getting super hot- had to put more insulation between cells.

That's the first time I've heard of this truck and it seems pretty awesome!

Eventually we'll be able to wrestle our transportation infrastructure away from the oil tycoons. We've been saying that for like fifty years now but that's how big business goes. It's not a matter of using the best technology available. It's a matter of getting past the people with all the money who are still profiting from the old technology and blocking the new stuff.

Pretty sweet truck though. When you combine electric motors with automatic transmissions it seems like trucks of the future are going to look and feel like you're driving a gigantic golf cart. Press the pedal and you silently take off! Of course this one has a turbine to charge the batteries. Now that is going to take some special wrench-turners to work on. Remember when being a mechanic meant you needed to pick up a $250 toolset and spend a few months learning carburetors and ignition? Someday a mechanic's skill set is going to include advanced high-powered electronics and turbine engines!

I'm with Heavy C. One of the goals I set for myself getting into this profession is to someday drive a Nikola. I hope the company I go with has preordered some to try out, and that I have earned the chance to be one of the drivers who gets to be their Guinea pig. :)