Tesla Semi: First customer Pepsi will take delivery in December, Musk says

The truck of the new generation could soon be delivering the taste of a new generation, with Elon Musk posting this week that the Tesla Semi's first customer, Pepsi, will receive an initial 100 trucks in December 2022.

Although not detailed above, Tesla's page for the Semi claims the 500-mile (800km) driving range is based on a fully-loaded truck – measured at 82,000lb Gross Combination Weight, or about 37 tonnes.

For reference, Australian transport regulations allow for a maximum road weight limit of 42.5 tonnes – including the combined weight of the truck, trailer, container and cargo.

There are more than a few unanswered questions regarding the Tesla Semi, though – most of them regarding range and charging times. The trucking industry is famous for its time pressures and strict regulations, so it remains to be seen how Tesla – and its customers – will address the question of delays caused by charging times.

Trucks travelling from Melbourne to Sydney would need at least one charging stop – although not necessarily a full recharge, with the claimed 800km range coming close to the 880km travel distance on the Hume.

Tesla claims the Semi will reach 70 per cent of a full charge in about 30 minutes. Assuming the 800km fully-loaded range proves accurate, drivers could conceivably make do with one 15-minute charging stop on the Melbourne-Sydney drive, which should fit in with mandated rest stops.

11

For longer-haul drives, it has been suggested a new paradigm will come into play, with drivers swapping their trailers to a waiting freshly charged truck, allowing their previous truck to be charged for the next driver.

Of course, the cost of maintaining hundreds or even thousands of extra trucks to accommodate this strategy would not be insignificant.

Although not part of the Tesla Semi's design, battery swapping would seem an obvious solution – or, in the case of the new Mercedes-Benz and Volvo joint-venture Cellcentric, a hydrogen-fuelled approach could make more sense for the freight industry.

Get more on the ideas and tech behind hydrogen FCEV trucks at the links below.

The story to here

September 5: Tesla Semi gets a design update for functionality

The long-overdue Tesla Semi truck will supposedly launch later this year, and to keep interest up, the company has this week released images of a near-production design.

Revealed in 2017, the Tesla Semi was originally expected to hit the road in 2019.

Then, a late-2021 date was promised, and now, Tesla boss Elon Musk says we can expect to see the Semi pulling freight in 2022, with an 805km driving range targeted.

Overpromising on launch dates is not unusual for Tesla, however, with its Cybertruck pickup and new Roadster both well past their originally announced launch dates.

As for the Semi, these new images show a longer glassed area with new rear quarter windows reaching further towards the back of the cab.

New large mirrors can also be seen – likely a result of conforming to regulations – and a conventional door handle replaces the familiar pop-out style used on other Tesla models.

11

Perhaps the most obvious exterior changes are to the wheels, with the front rims losing their black aerodynamic design and the twin-axel rear now also exposed. Again, both are likely to satisfy regulations and safety standards.

The interior appears largely unchanged, with massive twin displays still flanking the steering wheel. A new set of controls can now been on the left, however, where a simple glossy panel was previously set.

That's all Tesla is offering for now, so watch for more details to come later this year. If, indeed, the new schedule sticks.

11

November 2021: Tesla Semi due for late 2021 launch

The Tesla Semi prime mover could begin its first customer deliveries before the end of 2021, according to the CEO of PepsiCo.

In an interview with US news broadcaster CNBC on Monday, PepsiCo boss Ramon Laguarta said the food giant is expecting to begin receiving the first of its battery-powered Tesla trucks.

The food and beverage giant reserved 100 Tesla Semis back in 2017 as a way to reduce the company’s emissions. Other corporations, such as Walmart, also have orders with the electric vehicle company.

Despite the news, Tesla stock fell by 4.84 per cent in daily trading on expectations CEO Elon Musk could sell around 17 million shares of the company.

Following widespread criticism of his opinions on US tax law, Musk took to Twitter to ask if he should sell 10 per cent of his personal stake in Tesla.

11

"I only have stock, thus the only way for me to pay taxes personally is to sell stock," Musk wrote.

The Tesla boss does not take a salary from the company, but has stock released to him in tranches when sales targets are met.

The poll received more than 3.5 million participants, with 57.9 per cent voting ‘yes’. Musk said he would abide by the results of the poll "whichever way it goes".

It’s expected the sale would amount to US$20.8 billion (AU$28 billion) before taxes.

Even after the drop in the company’s share price, Tesla’s market capitalisation is estimated at US$1.17 trillion (AU$1.58tn), having reached the one trillion dollar mark on October 26 – an increase of 16.8 per cent within a fortnight.