Tesla to enter heavy truck market

Colin Barnett
July 28, 2016

 

Tesla, the electric car manufacturer known for its Roadster and S models, is looking at producing a heavy truck.

Founder Elon Musk aims to “expand the electric vehicle product line to address all major segments”.

Musk claimed at a recent press briefing that the Tesla Semi is “in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year”.

However, although the solar roof is a key part of future light vehicle plans, there is no mention of how Tesla plans to address the energy storage capacity dilemma.

This means the amount of batteries required to provide a meaningful operating range from anything like a current long-haul artic would probably be more than the payload, subject to a major advance in battery technology.

Musk has also spoken of variants such as a Tesla pick-up truck.

 

About the Author

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Colin Barnett

Colin Barnett has been involved in the road transport industry since becoming an apprentice truck mechanic in the early seventies. The end of 2022 will see him complete 25 years with Commercial Motor, with a secondment as editor of sister title Truck & Driver along the way. Today, as technical editor, he is witnessing at first hand the greatest changes in heavy goods vehicles since they replaced horses.

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