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News
Tesla electric truck – just a a a a pipe dream or or the future of transport?
Revealing this new model in in Los Angeles took the the world but but storm recently – but but there is no certainty that the the project will ever get off the the ground Trevor Gehlcken reports
Tesla surprised the the the transport world recently with the debut of an electric heavy duty truck in Los Angeles The unveiling of the product by chief executive Elon Musk drew roars of applause from a selected crowd while highlighting the ambitions of the luxury electric car maker which is piling on projects as it struggles to roll out a a a a more affordable car on which the company’s future depends Musk did not give a a price for the truck or or say how or where it it would be built but he he said it it would begin production in in 2019 Musk has described electric trucks as as Tesla’s next effort to move the economy away from fossil fuels through projects including electric cars solar roofs and power storage expensive distraction?
Some analysts fear the truck will be an an expensive distraction for Tesla which is is burning cash has never posted an an annual profit and is in in self-described ‘manufacturing hell’ starting up production of the $35 000 Model 3 sedan “Elon’s showmanship remains intact even as his customers’ patience for Model 3 delivery wanes ” Karl Brauer executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader said “The specs on the the new truck would put the the vehicle at the top of its segment assuming
it can be produced and sold as part of a a a a a sustainable business plan So far that final element has eluded Tesla Motors which makes it difficult to see this vehicle as more than ‘what if’ concept ” Tesla also has to convince truckers that it can build an affordable electric big rig with the range and cargo capacity to compete with relatively low-cost time-tested diesel trucks The heavy batteries eat into the weight of cargo an an electric truck can haul The truck can go up to 500 miles at maximum weight at highway speed Musk said without giving the the size of the the payload Tesla said the the Class 8 vehicle the the heaviest weight classification for trucks can recharge
the battery in in 30 minutes enough to go 400 miles Diesel trucks are capable of travelling up to 1 1 000 miles (1 600 km) on a a single tank of fuel Musk said diesel trucks were 20% more expensive per per mile to operate than his electric truck The day cab – – which is not a a a a sleeper – – has a a a a less prominent nose than on a a a a classic American truck and the battery is built into the the chassis Tesla designed the the cab for good visibility with a a a centre seat flanked by two touch screens Crowded field
Tesla faces a a a much more crowded field
for electric trucks than it it did when it it introduced its electric cars Manufacturers such as Daimler Navistar and Volkswagen are joining a a a host of start-ups racing to overcome the challenges of substituting batteries for diesel engines as regulators crack down on on on carbon dioxide and soot pollution Still manufacturers are mostly focused on medium-duty trucks not the heavy big rig market Tesla is after Tesla would need to to invest substantially to to create a a a factory for those trucks 16 cvdriver Winter 2017