.jpeg)
This photo provided by Tesla shows the new electric semitractor-trailer unveiled on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The move fits with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s stated goal for the company of accelerating the shift to sustainable transportation. (Tesla via AP)
Truck drivers may soon be added to the list of electric vehicle users.
On Nov. 15, Tesla unveiled their new electric semi-truck, as well as a roadster, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted would be the fastest production car ever made.
The semi-truck is expected to go into production in 2019.
Musk anticipates the semi-truck will go from zero to 60 in 20 seconds, while pulling 80,000 pounds of cargo, the maximum allowed in the U.S.
The Tesla Semi offers a transmission that does not require drivers to shift gears with regenerative braking, which will provide basically lifetime brakes, according to Tesla. It will be powered by a large battery underneath the cab.
According to the New York Times, the truck will cost $1.26 per mile to operate, offering a savings from the $1.51 per mile average to operate a diesel truck. A sticker price for the Tesla Semi was not announced.
The truck design allows the driver to sit in the middle of the cabin, with touch screens on both sides that offer navigation, blind spot monitoring and other data applications for the driver. The semi truck will include several autopilot features that are regularly included in Tesla’s other vehicles such as emergency braking and lane change alerts.
The new roadster is expected to have a range of 620 miles on a single charge and will go from zero to 100 in 4.2 seconds. It has a top speed of 250 miles per hour. Musk anticipates that it will be available in 2020, with the base price being $200,000.
