THINKING TO BUY A TESLA SEMI TRUCK

IFTA - saving on the engine parts - no more DEF SCR EGR DPF MAF - last but not least - HEAD GASKETS!! - think it’s a huge plus in my book - plus the power band available- don’t understand why tires would be wearing out faster? Prolly be a 6x2
The apu we have these days are already battery powered - and folks prefer them over the diesel powered units. Sure I’m missing some advantages - someone will chime in.
as far as backing up - it will prolly be all automated - time to put up your left flip flops on the dash and relax!

 

And where are they all going to park at night to charge up? Plug ins on exit/entrance ramps rest areas and every truck stop spot. Maybe they can use all of IdleAire’s infrastructure?

 

My bet most would be back at the terminal they started from........

Most of the marketing I am seeing is to local/city day cab type places, like soda/pop/beer distribution.

 

Even though, I love the idea, I would be hesitant to actually buy it in the nearest future. The lack of infrastructure and the know how is more than obvious, and more importantly, lack of feedback of how these Teslas would behave in overall OTR conditions, what about freezing -20 F delivery in Bismarck, ND? It has to be tested on the real battle field yet. It is just too risky for an individual o/o to assume such a risk.
But there's no doubt in my mind they are close to realese the first bunch to give it a test.

 

The heavy power to charge them still would need to be updated and many ltl types use the power on night linehaul

 

Cost of doing business

 

Are the tires wearing out due to some slippage to each wheel as there’s a ton of torque there?

 

I delivered a Tesla Supercharger the other day. Shipper said they're sending them all over the country at a rapid pace.

Could you imagine a motor at every wheel? No more engine, transmission, axles? Use the motors for brakes, and send that energy right back into the batteries? Talk about simple to work on. Electric motor driven compressor for air bags, and no more OOS for chafed airlines, since air no longer affects your brakes. Even a motor at the steer axle and trailer axles that only work as brakes. Sounds heavy, but when you've eliminated tons of drivetrain components...

I mean if they can get all the kinks worked out (and you know they will eventually), and keep them simple, it could be pretty cool. Just need interior and exterior speakers that play turbo charger whistling, and we're set.

 

i think that by the time any infrastructure would become more prevalent, (years away) batteries will have more capacity for longer distances and any bugs will be worked out of the soon to be, current models. as it is now, many car models have longer range driving, than previous models did. built in gensets for recharging as they drive is doable as well as generators at maybe one set of drives, or say a "tag" axle set up.

this will have to be addressed to maybe one set of trucks for night time linehaul and one set for day time deliveries/pick ups. meaning more money than necessary. or, diesel powered for line haul only?

 

The trucks need megachargers. Megawatt level per truck.