Why is the Tesla Semi a “gong” for the trucking industry?
With the delivery of the first Semi, Tesla has done nothing but initiate a move that will change the logistics industry as we have known it for over a hundred years. The historic date is December 1, 2022, and the Model 3 is as memorable a date as any for the passenger car industry. The delivery of the Model 3 in 2017 was undoubtedly a major shake-up for the entire auto industry, and without anyone realizing it, the trucking industry is also being shaken up right now.
In the future, Tesla will become the largest and most profitable manufacturer of Class 8 heavy-duty trucks, but everyone in charge of the industry is still in denial in 2017, as are the current automakers. , they know better, but it’s too late. .
“Tesla has accomplished what every senior logistics executive thought was physically impossible”
The reason for this upheaval in the transportation segment, where Tesla has played no part in the past, is technology, safety, economics and the fundamental thought that everything that has happened in the car business in the last decade will repeat itself.
Tesla has introduced the safest, most fuel-efficient and capable Class 8 long-haul truck the industry has ever seen, and it’s also a zero-emission vehicle. Tesla has accomplished what all top logistics executives thought was physically impossible, but this is only the beginning of a continuous improvement that will widen the gap between Tesla and other truck manufacturers. . The question is no longer if Tesla will supply more than 300,000 seedlings a year and become the industry’s largest producer, but when.
The Tesla Semi’s delay is explained by a battery shortage
The Tesla Semi was largely forgotten by the public as its delivery date was repeatedly pushed back due to battery shortages and many in the industry hoped it would never arrive and the industry would remain as it was.
This dream bubble has burst. Tesla often makes bold predictions that people find hard to believe, and there are often delays, but they always deliver on their promises. And what they convey is difficult for many to understand because there are reasons for this seismic shift that many do not see or understand. This file aims to list these reasons.
Tesla Semi: An Economical Choice?
The first and most important reason, why logistics companies buy the Tesla Semi is the 20% reduction in cost per kilometer in the US. This cost includes all costs such as purchase, maintenance, electricity, fuel and other services.
It operates with the logistics sector very low margins and every penny of revenue for every mile driven makes a big difference. In this regard, the Tesla Semi has an incredible advantage over the diesel truck in all cost categories.
The cost of buying a Tesla Semi for a long range of 500 km is €250,000, with the option to use ADAS and subsequent FSD at a price level similar to that of a fully equipped diesel truck. Interestingly, the cost of electricity is going to zero instead of increasing compared to the cost of diesel, so the gap will widen even further.
When it comes to maintenance, one of the biggest expenses of a semi-trailer truck is replacing the brakes, and this is another aspect where an electric truck with a recuperation system has a huge advantage over any diesel truck.
After all, electric powertrains have been proven to last longer in the passenger car industry, and there’s no reason why the same shouldn’t be true for electric trucks. If you can drive a truck 1 million miles instead of 500,000, your fixed costs will be cut in half. When considering the total cost of ownership, a good electric truck is better than a diesel truck.
