The $290,000 price point represents a significant increase from the original $180,000, roughly 60% higher. However, it’s still well below the industry average for class 8 electric semi trucks. CARB data shows the average cost of a zero-emission Class 8 truck was $435,000 in 2024, meaning Tesla is undercutting competitors by about $145,000
Standard Range: 325 miles at 82,000 lbs, curb weight under 20,000 lbs
Long Range: 500 miles, curb weight 23,000 lbs, 1.2 MW peak charging
I work on these diesel trucks. Whatever they’re charging, it’s worth it. Since the gov demanded new emissions regulations in ~2008 it has become prohibitively more expensive to maintain these vehicles. Probably 70% of the work that I do has to do with the emissions equipment. You can have a perfectly functioning vehicle but if the emissions system has a problem, or even thinks it has a problem, which it often does, it will derate the vehicle and it has to be grounded, towed away and repaired.
Now imagine you cut your fuel expenses in half (probably more in mountainous regions) and your maintenance and downtime budget by ~70%? Yeah that’s very attractive.
There’s also a safety aspect. If you live in mountainous regions you’ll see runaway vehicle ramps. Just short uphill roads filled with gravel and other substances meant to slow, like they have on the side of race tracks. That’s because the brakes can actually overheat on long descents and stop working, which is obviously a huge and terrifying problem. EVs not only solve that problem with Regen but also turn all that heat back into energy.
Too bad it’s a Tesla.
Remember musk is a liar and that will work when some actually serious chinese manufacturer makes one
Again, as with all things Musk, in theory. In practice, no way will anything made by a grifter last the demands of real world trucking, and those claimed ranges are pure bullshit. Lucky to see 150 miles in cold weather. Tesla has been testing this truck with frito lay -hauling potato chips.
Have you seen the prices of public charging? in UK, it’s more expensive than petrol.
Industrial trucks that use gravity to generate electrical power already rule mining and logging. Kenilworth already makes 7 EV trucks with real validated ranges.
I can see these as practical, but only when made by a real truck company, and likely with cheaper sodium batteries that work in very cold weather. Lithium is terrible in cold weather.
But the big appeal is the lack of noise. Diesels generate most of the noise near highways.
I drove past the Tesla factory in Austin this morning. The dead wank panzer on the freeway with cones around it. Directly in front of it. Speaks volumes about the future reliability of Teslas.
My commentary was not specifically on Tesla but on EV trucks in general.
In practice, no way will anything made by a grifter last the demands of real world trucking
They sell a million cars a year. Whatever you think of them, they’re good at selling vehicles.
Industrial trucks that use gravity to generate electrical power already rule mining and logging.
Huh?
Have you seen the prices of public charging?
Only every day.
in UK, it’s more expensive than petrol.
only when made by a real truck company, and likely with cheaper sodium batteries that work in very cold weather.
You don’t seem to realize that there’s a whole world and market that exists outside of wherever you live in the UK.
And Tesla is getting their lunch eaten by BYD and other Chinese evs. Can’t come to Canada fast enough. Oh, ya. The 60% drop in sales since last year. Ya. We canucks don’t want cars from a Nazi.
Turns out it’s very easy to make and sell cars when the local government pays for half of it 🤷
Like Tesla, or gm, or Chrysler? Pot and kettle with that tired gem.
No. Not like any of those. What are you talking about?
GM and Chrysler would not exist without government bailouts after 2008. Tesla wouldn’t exist without massive funding from the government. The USA car industry has taken huge tax credits from Canada in the desperate hope of keeping a few of those jobs in Canada. That doesn’t even count the massive breaks given to the oil and gas industry. Check the price of gas in Europe vs USA. There is a reason. The American auto industry is a leach that can barely sell vehicles outside of its protected area.
Regarding costs: Mercedes estimates that a truck consumes 28 liters of diesel or 119 kWh of electricity per 100 km. In the UK, this translates to roughly £40 for diesel (at £1.40/L) versus £48 for electricity (at £0.40/kWh via providers like Milence).
While public charging is currently more expensive than diesel, this price gap is subject to change as fuel markets fluctuate and charging infrastructure scales up.
I pay £0.08/kwh in UK. Just saying. I’m sure haulage firms in UK will find a way to access the cheaper rates that the rest of us are using every day.
Thanks. I wanted to highlight that even at 100% public charging, it is probably possible to reach price parity (with some negotiations).
Charging at the depot is likely almost always cheaper, but will require some investment.
You mean “Lying.” They’re Lying about <insert anything they say>
CARB data shows the average cost of a zero-emission Class 8 truck was $435,000 in 2024, meaning Tesla is undercutting competitors by about $145,000
What a shit website.
There was no class 8 truck available in 2024.
The Kenilworth Class 8 electric isn’t even out yet but will cost $365K.
325 miles @ 82,000 lbs? bullshit.
500 miles? more bullshit, that’s for 20,000lbs, or empty.
Diesel equivalents are $175K and proven to last.
Does Tesla have any competition in the electric semi market?
I don’t know about the US, but there are a few options in the EU, e.g. by Volvo, Mercedes, MAN and DAF.
In total, these heavy trucks now have a EU+EWR market share of about 2%.
Heavy trucks over 16 tonnes dominate the EU market by volume. Out of approximately 254,488 total registrations (-5.4% year-on-year), 4,991 were battery-electric trucks, representing a 2% share. – electrive.com
Kenilworth. 7 models.
https://www.kenworth.com/innovation/zero-emissions/
As usual, Elon is a day late and a billion dollars short.
