And The Landslide Continues: UPS Places Order For 125 Telsa Big Rigs

I will say it again, critics can say what they want about Tesla, I'm not much of a fan either, but Tesla has created a special niche for itself and while other automakers will catch up in time, it literally pays to be first sometime.

Timing isn't everything but it most certainly is relevant. These companies look at Tesla as an awesome PR opportunity for their environmental goals if nothing else

In the trucking industry: Payload equals paycheck. Cartage companies charge their customers by “dimensional weight,” so the more a truck can haul, they more money it makes for the truck’s owner.

Trucks are capped by a Gross Vehicle Weight, which is the total weight of the vehicle (“wet”), plus payload. The more the empty vehicle weights, the less remaining hauling capacity for the payload (cargo). Today’s batteries are heavy, and they cut into the payload number, which means the vehicle has less capacity to earn money.

The big unknown in all this is the truck’s unladen (empty) weight. Musk is mum about this, and that’s a big risk. Using today’s battery technology, which is relatively heavy (i.e., low energy density compared to diesel fuel), the Tesla truck will be a lot less appealing than the diesel counterpart, simply because it’ll weigh considerably more, and therefore have less capacity to haul revenue-generating cargo.

Lastly, where is the “landslide” cited in this page’s title? The linked article claims that about 260,000 Class-8 trucks are built in North America annually, and so far, Tesla allegedly has orders for 410. History has shown us that Tesla Motors misses every one of its “promises” or goals. For example, the end of 2017 was supposed to be the year that Model 3s were rolling off the line at a rate of thousands per month, and Level-5 autonomy was supposed to be a commercial reality.

My guess is that Tesla hype machine, the Tesla Cult, and the Tesla Motor Company will collapse (or be bought out at fire sale prices) before they see regular and real profits.

The Semi has 4 Model 3 motors and has a 0-60 time that is 0.1 sec faster than the Model 3 long range.

So it will be heavy but not THAT heavy.

Hauerg: The 0-to-60 times you mention, and which were hyped by Musk, are inconsequential, as truckers rarely drag-race each other. Also, in an EV, brisk acceleration drastically reduces driving range, so again, its best avoided by EV truckers.


Re “…So [the Tesla EV truck] will be heavy but not THAT heavy…”

Without numbers to back up this statement, it’s pointless. We know that a Class-8 truck’s payload it somewhere around 40,000 lbs. Recent calculations based on today’s lithium battery technology estimate that if you want to get a 500-mile range in an EV truck that has a total gross weight (vehicle + payload) that’s the same as a loaded Class-8 diesel truck, then you’ll need more than 10,000 lbs. worth of lithium batteries. That’s a lot!

If these calculations are at least “in the ballpark,” then that means a Tesla truck’s payload – and its ability to invoice customers – is about 25% less than an equivalent diesel rig. It’s doubtful that a cartage company could make up that 25% revenue deficit in fuel cost savings and (hopefully) reduced maintenance costs.

The double whammy is (1) a Tesla truck is a much worse revenue generator than a diesel rig, and (2) for every three diesel rigs you replace in your fleet, you need to buy 4 Tesla trucks to haul the same freight. Suddenly, the purchase price plays a huge part in the transaction, and the trucking cost per ton of freight goes way up.

Really, do you or your company make every deadline and meet every commitment? I didn't think so, so why place lofty ideals like this on others? In the real world, there are targets but everyone knows those are just estimates. It's very easy to be critical or put all hiccups under a microscope since that's just what deplorables do. It's much better (and intelligent) to appreciate what Tesla is doing to change the industry for the better, and to improve the environment as well.

Why would sane people order a vehicle that will cost the price of several sight unseen by a manufacturer that has no experience building trucks? Oh that's right: #idiots.

So how is the price of the Tesla Semi the price of „several“ others?

Explain yourself, if you can.

I don't explain the obvious to idiots.

MD, stop calling others „idiots“.
Either show me that the price of other Semis is less than 60.000,- or admit that you are a first class asshole.

Name ONE example of an EV that isn't DOUBLE the price of its conventional ICE counterpart.

Bolt = 2X Sonic
Leaf = 2X Versa
Tesla S = 2X Fusion

On what planet is a Model S in the same class as a Fusion? After factoring in gas savings it is less than an equivalent E-Class.

EV experience is far more relevant.

These deposits are not held in escrow accounts. If Tesla has financial problems the deposits will vanish.

Which makes those reservations more relevant.