Tesla Semi order count rises to 1,230 units in less than a month since reveal

PepsiCo’s 100 trucks add to orders by more than a dozen companies such as Wal-Mart Stores, J B Hunt Transport Services, and Sysco Corp, taking total reservation count for the soon-to-be-launched Tesla Semi truck to around 285.

By Autocar Pro News Desk

13 Dec 2017

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The Tesla Semi can also travel in a convoy, where one or several Semi trucks will be able to autonomously follow a lead Semi.

Tesla Semi does 0-60mph in 20 seconds with a full 80,000-pound load, a task that takes a diesel truck about a minute.

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

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

Fully loaded Tesla Semi consumes less than 2 kWh of energy per mile and is capable of 500 miles of range at GVW and highway speed.

The Semi’s cabin is designed specifically around the driver.

No shifting or clutching for smooth acceleration, deceleration; regenerative braking recovers 98% of kinetic energy to the battery.

Without a trailer, Tesla Semi does 0-60mph in five seconds, compared to 15 seconds in a comparable diesel truck.

Tesla, the premium electric vehicle maker, which revealed the Semi, its first commercial offering last month, has seen considerable interest in the heavy electric vehicle. As per industry researcher Morgan Stanley, the company has recieved a cumulative order for 1,230 units of its 'Semi'. Among them, American food and beverage maker PepsiCo has reserved 100 Semi trucks, says Reuters.

As is now known, without a trailer, the Tesla Semi accelerates from 0-100kph in five seconds, compared to 15 seconds in a comparable diesel truck. It does 0-100kph in 20 seconds with a full 36-tonne load, a task that takes a diesel truck about a minute.

Most notably for truck drivers and other travelers on the road, it climbs 5% grades at a steady 65mph/104kph, whereas a diesel truck maxes out at 45mph/72kph on a 5% grade. The Tesla Semi requires no shifting or clutching for smooth acceleration and deceleration, and its regenerative braking recovers 98 percent of kinetic energy to the battery, giving it a basically infinite brake life. Overall, the Semi is more responsive, covers more miles than a diesel truck in the same amount of time, and more safely integrates with passenger car traffic.

Order break-up

Pepsi says the decision behind the order for the Tesla Semi is to reduce fuel costs and fleet emissions. The premium EV maker has been trying to convince the commercial vehicle community that it can build an affordable electric big rig with the range and cargo capacity, which can compete with relatively low-cost, time-tested diesel trucks.

The Reuters reports says many transportation firms have been holding off their decision on the Tesla truck for now, due to the doubt over the turnaround time that would be required for recharging the vehicle in compared to refueling, along with the payload capabilities and the future market for electric CVs.

According to an estimate by FTR, an industry economics research firm, the North American market sees production of around 260,000 heavy-duty Class-8 trucks annually. On the other hand existing international CV makers, like Navistar International Corp (NAV.N) and Volkswagen AG’s Truck and Bus, have also been working for launching their electric medium duty truck by late 2019, while Daimler AG has already delivered the first batch of a smaller range of electric trucks to customers in New York.

PepsiCo’s 100 trucks add to orders by more than a dozen companies such as Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.N), fleet operator J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT.O), and food service distribution company Sysco Corp (SYY.N). The report states that after the company’s reveal of its electric Semi truck, the company has already got at least 285 truck reservations in hand.

It is understood that PepsiCo intends to deploy the Tesla Semis for shipments of snack foods and beverages between manufacturing and distribution facilities and direct to retailers within the 500-mile (800-km) range, which was promised by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The semi-trucks will further add to PepsiCo’s US fleet of nearly 10,000 big rigs and are a key part of its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain by a total of at least 20 percent by 2030, said Mike O‘Connell, senior director of North American supply chain for PepsiCo subsidiary Frito-Lay.

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