The Tesla Semi has been a long time coming, but it’s a long-hauler.
The electric tractor was first revealed as a concept in 2017 alongside the yet-to-be-released Tesla Roadster, but Elon Musk said this week that volume production will begin this year.
Tesla has been building Semi prototypes at its Nevada factory for a couple of years now and testing them with a few customers, including PepsiCo.
The company recently updated the Semi’s website with its final production specifications. Both use the same tri-motor drivetrain that Tesla says generates “up to 800 kW” which is equivalent to around 1,072 hp.
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It is offering it in a Standard Range model rated for 325 miles of range and a Long Range model that can go 500 miles, both at the 82,000 maximum legal weight for an electric tractor-trailer. Electric trucks are allowed an extra 2,000 pounds to account for some of their battery’s weight.
Tesla hasn’t said exactly how big and heavy the batteries are, but at the quoted 1.7 kWh/mile efficiency they would have capacities of 552.5 kWh and 850 kWh. Based on typical battery weights, that means they may weigh at least 7,000 pounds and 10,000 pounds.
The Semi is the fastest-charging vehicle Tesla has ever made and can handle a 1.2-megawatt charge from a Tesla Megacharger, which can fill the battery to 60% in 30 minutes, which would be good for 195 miles in the Standard Range model and 300 miles in the Long Range model.
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The Semi’s styling has been updated since the concept and now features a light bar across the front that’s similar to the Model Y’s. One thing that hasn’t been officially updated is the price.
In 2017, Tesla was targeting $150,000 for the Standard Range and $180,000 for the Long Range, but those prices were removed from the Semi website sometime ago and new prices have not yet been announced.
Nor has an official debut date, but if it does go into production this year, it will beat the Roadster to market, as the sports car isn’t expected to go on sale until sometime in 2027.
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