Tesla Semi Finally Revealed

[redpoint5]

If Cummins is getting into EV and hybrid drivetrains, then it is a strong indicator that this is the future of hauling.

I've often believed that trucks make the most sense to make into a hybrid. Engines can be vastly downsized if electric motors are there to assist with acceleration and climbing grades. Then the motors can be used as generators to recapture energy normally lost when slowing the vehicle.

[NeilBlanchard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJEl...3P0yOTExMjAxNw

[jakobnev]

People who hold the wheel like that should be killed.

[freebeard]

People who hold the wheel like that should will likely be killed.

Diesel mechanic gets that deer-in-the-headlights feeling.

...Elon Musk said that it was going to
be either all or mostly solar-powered
which is gonna bring the operation costs
down even lower as if it's not hardly
low enough and the aerodynamics the
Tesla semi had a coefficient of drag
less than a Bugatti which has never been
done usually a semi you're just driving
it's like driving a giant parachute down
the road there's zero aerodynamics so
I'm excited but I'm also also worried...

A Bugatti is a pretty low bar (0.70 or so Cd) and a truck doesn't have zero aerodynamics, just bad aerodynamics.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

...

Change- Get used to it. We'll also lose many McDonalds employees that take orders, auto collision repair people, insurance adjusters...

Good thing humans are programmable, and capable of endless tasks. As an IT guy, my code is constantly being updated.

Originally Posted by jakobnev

People who hold the wheel like that should be killed.

You should see me navigate a hairpin at speed using 1 knee. Not justifying it, but perhaps that's 1 more reason why automation is a good thing.

[Grant-53]

I worked in parts sales for cars and trucks for fifteen years. I then went back to college to get a degree in computer aided manufacturing. Good technicians will always be in demand. We just need to keep up with servicing the new models. People were all in a tizzy when cars went to electronic ignitions. Turns out more sophistication may have doubled the way things can go bad. Good news is that you don't have to do an engine overhaul as often. Just be ready to hit the downloads on electrical motors and control circuits.

[gone-ot]

Hubs and axle bearings will STILL need to be cleaned and re-greased periodically.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Hubs and axle bearings will STILL need to be cleaned and re-greased periodically.

They'll have to change the "book hours" on that procedure to 20hrs to make up for the lost hours on everything else.

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Change- Get used to it. We'll also lose many McDonalds employees that take orders, auto collision repair people, insurance adjusters...

Don't get me wrong - I think the Tesla Semi will be a great thing. And it will hasten the demise of ICE vehicles. The Semi is reported to have a 1MWh battery pack (!!) and the new Roadster will have a 200kWh pack (!) - and that means that breakthroughs in battery cells, and in making them, has happened. And we will see these in affordable EV's, soon.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Don't get me wrong - the new Roadster will have a 200MWh pack (!) - And we will see these in affordable EV's, soon.

You mean 200kwhr

Or 0.2MWh

About twice as much capacity as a p100 but at 4x the price