CEO Telsa, Elon Musk described the Tesla electric lorry as “unreal
Tesla is likely to unveil its electric articulated lorry in October, chief executive Elon Musk said on Thursday. The firm had previously said the vehicle would be released next month. Mr. Musk expressed the company’s desire to branch out beyond cars.
The entrepreneur has excited the trucking industry with the prospect of a battery-powered, heavy duty vehicle that can compete with conventional diesel. Mr. Musk said an “unveil and test ride” for the Tesla Semi truck was tentatively scheduled for 26 October in Hawthorne, California. “Worth seeing this beast in person. It’s unreal,” he said in a tweet.
The US firm’s ambitions for new electric vehicles, including a commercial lorry, were announced last year.
The need to switch heavy-polluting vans and trucks to cleaner engines is growing as countries around the world push to banish diesel vehicles. Tesla has also been making strides in self-driving technology.
Implementing that in an electric truck could potentially move it forward in a highly competitive area of commercial transport also being pursued by Uber Technologies and Alphabet Inc’s Waymo.
According to Reuters, the truck could have a real-world range of between 200 and 300 miles after speaking to a source close to the company.
Scott Perry, an executive at US-based fleet operator Ryder System Inc. who allegedly met with the maker earlier this year, Tesla will kick off with a small-range model before later expanding to rival long-distance rigs capable of more than 1,000 miles on a single charge.
Perry said he met with Tesla officials earlier this year to discuss the technology at the automaker’s manufacturing facility in Fremont, California.
“Right out of the gate I think that’s where they’ll start,” Perry told Reuters. He also suggested the first Tesla truck would be a “day cab” with no sleeper section, as found in many US and European lorries. It’s likely Tesla will add this feature, as and when the vehicle is capable of a longer usable range.
