In a noteworthy development at the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s “Run On Less Electric Depot” event, three Tesla Semi trucks have showcased their capabilities, providing valuable insights into the electric freight vehicle’s performance. Despite Tesla’s prior ambiguity regarding specific details of the Semi, this independent testing offers a glimpse into its range and efficiency.
Tesla had initially announced a 500-mile (805 km) range for the Semi, coupled with a claim of only two kWh of energy consumption per mile. Data collected by NACFE now suggests that, under suitable conditions, the Semi is indeed capable of achieving this impressive 500-mile range on a single charge.
See also: Tesla Semi electric trucks spotted being shipped and looks like just finished testing
The Run On Less Electric Depot spans 18 days, and within the first two days of the event, the Tesla trucks have delivered commendable results. On the inaugural day, the first truck covered 416 miles (670 km) and concluded its journey with a battery charge level slightly above 18 percent. On the second day, it traveled 406 miles (654 km) and retained over seven percent of its battery capacity upon completion.
The second Tesla Semi achieved a distance of 376 miles (605 km) on the first day, preserving just over 15 percent of its battery. On the subsequent day, it covered 223 miles (359 km) and had nearly half of its range still available, registering at 48 percent battery capacity.
The most impressive single-day performance was exhibited by the third Tesla Semi, which covered a remarkable 545 miles (877 km) on the first day. However, it did require a mid-way charge after depleting its battery following 377 miles (607 km). The second day for this truck also demonstrated strong performance, with slightly over 18 percent battery remaining after a 410-mile (660 km) journey.
See also: Tesla finally delivers its first heavy-duty Semi electric truck
It’s important to acknowledge that numerous factors, such as temperature, elevation, traffic conditions, and more, can influence a vehicle’s range. Additionally, the diverse routes, cargo loads, and stops among the 10 participating teams make direct comparisons between them challenging. Nonetheless, these initial findings suggest that, at least for single-day trips, the Tesla Semi proves to be a robust and capable freight-hauling machine.
