The Staggering Economics of the Tesla Semi

This calculation is misleading. Trucking revenue is a function of payload - with heavier batteries you get less payload, so the trucker will make less money per haul.

Just looked it up, the semi can carry the same load as a diesel and gets 500 mile range. There are about 1200 truck stops on interstates. 500 miles is about 10 hours the DOT allowes 11 hours of driving and then you need a 8 hour break. That is why you see 100s of trucks parked at truck stops.Makes sense to charge it up while you are parked. It all makes sense and building the infrastructure will be easy, the truck stops will want to do it. They make most of the profit selling items in their stores. It works out for everyone in the long run

Electricity is more like 30 to 40+ cents per kWhr. So that brings the cost of the electric semi completely in line with fossil.

You have failed to factor in some environmental impacts.
The diesel fuel used to mine the materials for the building of the batteries, crude oil needed for the production of plastics, tires, asbestos for brake linings and steel for frames, brake drums the works. Also where do you think the power cones from to charge them? Hydroelectric ( which is in serious trouble from a drought in the west) coal fired and natural gas fired power plants, maybe some renewable sources and nuclear plants.
I think electric trucks have a place but are they the next Peterbuilt? No, not by a long shot. In local lol companies maybe. UPS and Usps would benefit.
They will never be able to replace diesel powered trucks unless we disrupt our entire supply chain.
Keep developing of course but don't white wash over the impacts.

Right now electric rate is .11 cents. Overages go to .13 or .14. There's no way our current electric grid will maintain current lower prices.

How much do the batteries weigh, and how much of an impact does this have on the payload capacity?

The level and magnitude of mass hypnosis that untold millions of Americans live under regarding clean energy is truly horrific. The gas, oil, coal companies have been sowing lies fear and disbelief into the mental and feeling world of mankind for over a century. And soft minded people keep on endlessly repeating their nonsense.
The entirety of Creation is DESIGNED to be and powered by Solar energy! Every plant, flower, green leaf gets all its energy from the sun. That in turn gives life and energy to higher forms of Life, us !
The oil, gas and coal industries pollute the planet, poison the air You breath, melt the glaciers, your drinking water, contaminate the oceans and are raising the sea level .
Some people want to pay ever and ever increasing prices for gas, for electricity when ALL THE POWER THEY NEED IS FREE COMING FROM THE SUN ☀️
All we have to do is harvest it!
You’d rather be a slave to oil,gas and coal industry destroy Gods good Earth, and pay endlessly to your lord and masters to keep you forever in debt and complaining. No way out ! No solution! Just keep whining and complaining and paying all your life.
You know what the word “ Metamoia” means?
A Greek word from the Bible Jesus used, literally “ Change your Mind”! Translated to English “ Repent”
Do you want to be a slave or a free person? The choice is yours. CHANGE YOUR MIND!
Thank you

It's a boondoggle just like starlink..promised $50/mo took my $100 and now wants $500 per month and 2g to install. It will cost an order of magnitude greater than anything Musk promised. Wait till the Tesla owners start replacing batteries when they can't afford a new car. Remember most people can't. A debt reckoning day is coming.

The efficiency calculation doesn't consider the real possibility of per mile fees for EVs to make up for lost fuel tax revenue. The average federal and state combined fuel tax is over $0.50 per gallon. This tax funds much of the reconstruction and maintenance of highways. Trucks cause a disproportionate amount of wear and tear on pavements and are sure to be targeted for replacement costs.

Alas, it's not only about cost per mile, it's about time to delivery...moving from pickup dock to delivery dock as quickly as possible. As the buyer of goods, I need the delivery as quickly as possible. Drivers cannot drive more than 11 consecutive hours, nor be on duty more than 14 consecutive hours. Unless that cost savings reduces the cost of moving my load, I'm passing on the Tesla driver.

So Tesla expects drivers to work for free and goods to have 0 weight?

What I don't understand is why they don't use the tesla solar panels on the top and put the recharger batteries on back and then when power gets low turn it on and charge it while you drive. I'm a truck driver I can drive over 860 miles and average 7 miles a gallon. With stops and stuff I can run 24 hrs before fueling. And I don't see drivers wanting to stop for an hr at a truck stop to charge or a charger being available when you get there. All your going to have are dead trucks on the side of the highway.

How much r the tesla semis an do u have one that will pull 63500 kg gvw

What about load carrying capacity? I believe weight of battery is staggeringly higher for semi's compared to ICE. In kwh calculation, weight will be significant aspect.

Weird that everyone is talking about how much the cost of the electricity but nobody is addressing how much a 500 mile range battery would weigh, which is like the second most important thing for trucks. A full tank of diesel is between 1000 and 2000 pounds depending on capacity. 7 pounds per gallon, 200 gal tank ~1400 pounds.

It's cost per ton-mile. Carrying 18 tons of batteries charged or not IS A HUGE LOSER.

It's cost per ton-mile. Carrying 18 tons of batteries charged or not IS A HUGE LOSER.

A large part of ICE fuel cost is tax that (supposedly) goes to highway costs. EVs currently pay nothing toward this infrastructure. That will need to change as will the EV/ICE comparison spreadsheet.

Also, to give a finishing punch. The roof of the semi should be gladed with high efficiency panels. Since the surface area is much, it can house panels that can increase the range by 10 miles on the road and on parking....

I think road tax was left out of the calculation. Also, you would still have break wear on the trailer.

Is this mileage rating an average or full load? There are these things out here in the west called Mountains! Plenty of unhappy EV owners who got less than half the stated mileage when towing a load up a grade. A semi runs out of juice on a grade.. then what? Mobile charging stations? The tech is great.. but is it practical anywhere except flat ground.

Is the electricity made from coal or natural gas? If so then where is the carbon reduction advantage?

This report is ignoring the diesel tech already in existence now. Volvo semi trucks are achieving over 12 miles per gallon. These comparisons are significantly ludicrous when not using "All of Today's" Available Technology. This article is avoiding the real science and technology. Please be honest (comprehensive) in you studies.

This report is ignoring the diesel tech already in existence now. Volvo semi trucks are achieving over 11 miles per gallon. These comparisons are significantly ludicrous when not using "All of Today's" Available Technology. This article is avoiding the real science and technology. Please be honest (comprehensive) in you studies.

Interesting how people conveniently leave out tha 85 percent of of electricity is generated by coal and natural gas. Ohhhh so green. Then there is the degradation of the batteries over the life of the truck, so that 3 years later the range of a full charge is about half of that 500 miles, not to mention the pollution from disposing of spent batteries that are toxic and not recyclable, I could go on. There is a place for these in urban areas probably not so much in interstate trucking.

Bunk. Test L’S investor protecting his bad investment

“Researchers “Tesla truck takes the energy of 4000 homes to recharge”