Tesla Unveils Electric Semi
On Thursday, Tesla unveiled the newest edition to their fleet: the coolest semi since Optimus Prime. A hulking futuristic behemoth that promises relatively long hauls at a surprisingly brisk pace. A fortress of tech and ambition encased in shatter proof glass. More Blade Runner 2049
than Smokey & The Bandit
, the duel-screened center mounted cockpit screams innovation. But the real question remains: beyond the hype, it there a viable truck here that could conceivably replace its combustion engineed competition?
How long can you drive it before it needs to be plugged back in? Tesla is entering the market just as the ELD mandate
will come into play. Now, more than ever, time is crucial for every trucking operation and with only a 14-hour window to operate, long charge times and/or short ranges would leave Tesla in the parking lot. Those concerns were assuaged by Elon Musk as he boasted of a 500-mile range. That's more than double the 200-mile range analysts had speculated for the Class 8 heavy-duty. In addition, Musk claims, that the semi can travel up to 400-miles on a 30-minute charge.
Tesla's design cues are all over their semi. A company known for sedans and roadsters typically wouldn't be the first place to look for design inspiration for an 18-wheeler but there's method to Musk's madness. The interior, from the duel-screens to the door handles are straight out of the Model 3. The body and drivetrain employee the same principles Tesla has applied to their smaller vehicles. Independent electric drive trains, advanced aerodynamics, and one more thing: autopilot.
While emission concerns and entering an emerging marketplace are clearly on Tesla's to-do list, it's hard to ignore what their endgame could be. Autonomous platoons of short and long haul trucks. With driver shortages, strained capacity, the ELD mandate, and raising fuel costs, there clearly is a market there...but what that means for road safety, jobs in the trucking industry, and rates in the future remains to be seen.
A number of large retailers are ready to find out. Walmart has launched a 15-truck pilot program
, Canadian Grocer Loblaw has
ordered 25
, Meijer, and JB Hunt are also already on board.
In Aborn & Co. news:
Our own Jill Carney is on this week's episode of The Shipping Pod podcast to talk about how 3PL's, 4PL's , and Consultants work. Listen in as she discusses the history of Aborn & Co., emerging tech in the supply chain, ELDs, and wealth of other subjects. You can stream/download the show here or on iTunes.
Happy Thanksgiving from Aborn & Co.








