Half a decade after Elon Musk first revealed it, the Tesla Semi is poised to reach its first customers before the end of the year.
a real-world validation process, testing whether electrification is well-suited for heavy trucks, which mostly run on diesel fuel.
The first version will have a battery-powered range of 500 miles and will be "super fun to drive," Musk says.that it expects to take delivery of Tesla Semis on Dec. 1, adding that the trucks will be supporting its Frito-Lay plant in Modesto, California, and its beverages plant in Sacramento.It's been nearly five years since Musk first unveiled a Tesla Semi prototype at an event in California, claiming at the time that it would begin production in 2019.
Longer routes are more challenging for EV trucks because they will require more frequent charging, which is costly downtime that diesel-powered trucks don't have to deal with.