Many have questioned the ability of the Tesla Semi electric truck to carry a full load. Will Tesla’s upcoming Class 8 electric truck really have a range of 500 miles (804 km), especially when fully charged.
In October Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the Tesla Semi electric truck’s range is calculated by cargo – “Just to be clear, 500 miles with cargo at ground level.”
Elon Musk in a recent tweet wrote that the Tesla Semi electric truck completed a 500 mile journey weighing 81,000 lbs, which is almost 100% of its 82,000 lbs (37,195 kg) Gross Combined Weight (GCW).
“Tesla team just completed a 500 mile journey in an 81,000 lbs Tesla Semi!”
Tesla team just completed a 500 mile drive with a Tesla Semi weighing in at 81,000 lbs!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2022
Musk’s tweet was published ahead of the first delivery of Tesla’s electric truck with Pepsi as the first customer.
According to Tesla, the energy consumption of the Semi is lower than 2 kWh/mile (1.24 kWh/km). At 500 miles, the battery capacity will be less than 1,000 kWh (1 MWh).
Tesla currently manufactures its Tesla Semi electric trucks in Reno, Nevada and aims to increase production to 50,000 units per year.
That translates to over 100 vehicles per day, and could make Tesla one of North America’s largest manufacturers of Class 8 trucks.
