The long-awaited Tesla semi-trucks are reportedly to be delivered to PepsiCo on December 1.
Key Details
- Though initially expected to be delivered in 2019, Tesla semi trucks are making their way to Pepsico.
- Delays on the electric vehicles (EVs) were in part due to shortages of batteries and supply-chain delays. When Tesla founder Elon Musk announced the trucks in 2017, he claimed that the vehicles could travel 500 miles on a single charge.
- PepsiCo originally ordered 100 vehicles, but Musk did not state how many of the ordered trucks will be delivered in December.
- A truck with a 500-mile range is $180,000 and a model with a 300-mile range is $150,000.
Why it’s news
The release of Tesla’s electric semi-trucks is another step down the road of emission-free driving.
In March, the Environmental Protections Agency suggested stricter regulation on semi trucks to reduce overall emissions. Transportation contributes 29% of emissions in the U.S. Trucking alone makes up 23% of that number.
Though the Tesla trucks have a 500 mile range, they will likely be used for short-range and local transport. Currently, a driver in a traditional semi truck can travel more than 700 miles in a single day. Additionally, there are fewer charging locations available than there are truck stops.
Backing up a bit
Tesla and PepsiCo aren’t the only companies innovating delivery methods. Google’s self-driving car division Waymo partnered with Constellation Brands to deliver beer in Texas towns using a driverless vehicle.
Though still in a testing phase, the program has already supplied over 1 million pounds of Modelo and Corona beer to Dallas and Houston.
The driverless delivery system still uses a safety driver, but so far there have been no major issues with the test runs.
Earlier this year, Colorado-based manufacturer Lightning eMotors made a deal with Canadian GoBolt to make 170 electric delivery vans and box trucks within the next year.
The Canadian company ordered 70 delivery vans and 100 trucks that will be used in the U.S. and Canada. Lightning eMotors currently specializes in retrofitting utility vehicles to turn them into zero-emissions fleets.
When completed, the vans and trucks will have a 200-mile range when fully charged. Lightning eMotors also provides charging stations and coordinates with customers to set up convenient charging locations for the delivery vehicles.