Tesla plans to sell trucks: big semis, pickups, too

[jpak]

Source: Extreme Tech

Tesla will unveil its latest project in September: a semi truck. That’s according to CEO Elon Musk, who tweeted the news Thursday: “Tesla Semi truck set for September.” Tesla also will debut a pickup truck within the next two years, although that’s old news for those who read the Tesla master plan of 2016. And Tesla will return to its roots with a second-generation convertible roadster.

This is good news for investors who like to see Tesla expand its horizons beyond two, soon to be three, kinds of electric cars. This is bad news for investors who wonder how well Tesla can scale, and if Musk has enough bandwidth to shepherd all the products to fruition. Still, a company that delivered 76,230 vehicles in 2016 this month has surpassed both Ford and General Motors in market capitalization, or total value.

Tesla appears to have four new vehicles in the offing. All will be full-on EVs, not plug-in hybrids. This week’s tweet says Tesla will unveil a tractor (“semi”) for a tractor-trailer rig in September. A pickup truck has been announced as part of Tesla’s plans since Musk unveiled Master Plan, Part Deux in July 2016, when Musk wrote:

Today [July 2016], Tesla addresses two relatively small segments of premium sedans and SUVs. With the Model 3, a future compact SUV and a new kind of pickup truck, we plan to address most of the consumer market.

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Read more: https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247707-tesla-plans-sell-trucks-big-semis-pickups

[redixdoragon]

1. We need to get away from SUVs

Not transfer them to the electric vehicle realm. A vehicle of that size requires more power, much more, to put into motion. This will require more battery materials, which themselves take much energy to mine, refine, and process into batteries, creating more of the waste and CO2 emissions we don't want to have, and then there's the energy needed to charge them.

This is one of those desperate efforts to keep things going as they are rather than trying to adjust ourselves to the changes that need to occur.

And this company isn't exactly kind to its labour

http://capitalandmain.com/charge-time-electric-car-workers-accuse-tesla-of-low-pay-and-intimidation-0406

But after originally describing Tesla as “union neutral,” Musk said on an earnings call in February that “there are really only disadvantages to someone to want the UAW here.” In a later email to workers, Musk delivered a point-by-point rebuttal to Moran’s Medium post, arguing that overtime had decreased and incident rates were below average. Instead of offering workers better wages and input on production, Musk promised “a really amazing party” for the launch of the Model 3, “free frozen yogurt stands” at the factory and “a Tesla electric pod roller coaster” connecting the parking lots. “It’s going to get crazy good,” Musk concluded.

[politicat]

12. You're thinking of Tesla as a car company. It's not.

It's a technology company that produces devices that run on large-scale battery technology, starting with personal transport and solar home energy banking.

As for the labor issues -- it'll happen or it won't. Having watched UAW behave badly in the Rust Belt for the past 40 years, I'm not sure I'd want to be repped by UAW anyway. Tesla is coming out of the tech industry far more than the automotive industry, and the *unions* never wanted to rep tech.

Back in the early 90s, there were multiple attempts to organize tech, at Intel and Motorola (I was at Motorola then, and was involved in trying to get representation), at SGI and Cisco, and at Oracle and (I think) Microsoft. Even though the employees were being paid relatively well, and most of tech was relatively progressive in terms of benefits, most of the companies had deeply ugly sides. We were experiencing workplace abuse -- 100 hour work weeks on $45K annual salaries ($75K in 2017 money) and pay shenanigans (stock options! Vanishing 401k contributions!) and sexual harassment that makes Uber look like a model of moral integrity. None of the unions wanted to work with us; even CWA only wanted the ones doing telecom work. There's a reason that tech has been ambivalent to hostile towards unionization, and it's not because of the libertarian techie myth. It's because a lot of us early internet founders tried and the unions told us to go pound sand.

[EL34x4]

19. People like SUVs, minivans, trucks, big cars.

We drive a lot in America. It's a big place. We like to do so in comfort. If you have a family, an SUV or a minivan is almost a requirement. With a soon-to-be-again pregnant wife and three kids, I couldn't imagine driving anything smaller than my Sienna.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. SUVs and minivams are just the station wagons

we used to drive in the 70s and before. I took my driving test in one of those land barges. It guzzled gas too.

I think Tesla is nuts if they think they can make an EV semi. Semis have fuel tanks of 100 to 500 gallons. Average MPG diesel is 4 to 8. Unless they have a bank of batteries that can last for 700-800 miles it just won't work, and how long would it take to charge those batteries. Hybrids would make more sense. If hybrid trucks could improve mileage by 50% or more, it would be huge.

[alfredo]

2. The garbage trucks in Asmara Eritrea were electric. Mid/late 60's

[NWCorona]

24. Asmara is a beautiful city. The Italian influence is very evident in some of the architecture the

I was lucky enough to export a few vintage motorcycles and cars before they changed the laws. Fun times... I'll never forget the Red Sea.

[alfredo]

26. I was there for three years. Massawa and Axum were favorite destinations

I left there just as the drought was kicking in. I loved Asmara and hated to leave, but I knew the shit was about to hit the fan with the drought and the IPLF was becoming bolder.

[NWCorona]

27. Yeah, of all of Eritrea, Massawa was my favorite. I was only there for 2 months and loved it.

I also felt more secure in Eritrea as apposed to Ethiopia but loved that country too. Did you learn much Tigrinya? It was super hard for me because it's like Arabic, more back of the throat to me. I was able to get by with my broken Italian and Amharic. I miss having pasta with my injera.

[alfredo]

29. I had little problem with either country, though Addis Ababa had some rough places.

I didn't learn much Tigranya because so many spoke English. Their language has a 209 character alphabet, and gender/status specific words. http://www.digob.com/Tigrinya-eritrea-ethiopia/Tigrinya-Alphabet-eritrea-ethiopia.php

I also remember a lot of men with no right hands. That was a legacy of colonialism.

[Aristus]

3. Electric pickup trucks will go over like a lead balloon.

Pickup truck drivers like the noise, the smell, and the idea that they are sticking it to environmentalists with their wanton air and noise pollution. They won't give those up until the oil is all gone.

[byronius]

4. No no no -- I'm first in line. Been wanting an electric truck forever.

Don't be judging all pickup drivers like that. Mine's got an Obama sticker on the back. And yes, it's not the best choice environmentally, but I use it for work.

Not to mention -- being a vegan means I take the equivalent of five Dodge Rams off the carbon ledger. So there.

Electric pickup -- !! I so want one.

[Aristus]

5. I hope you're able to get one soon, sir.

[JudyM]

22. It's crazy how little press the climate impact of meat-production gets, considering it's worse than

the impact of cars! Most people have never even heard about that. Not to mention water contamination, etc. It's all a sinisterly-well-kept secret.

[Codeine]

7. What an asinine comment.

I'd love an all-electric pickup, and I'm hardly alone in that.

[GulfCoast66]

8. Stereotype much?

I need a big truck to pull my boat and often for work.

Would first in line for a full size electric truck that fulfilled my needs.

[Aristus]

11. About as often as they do.

I like to breathe fresh air and drink clean water, so evidently that makes me an America-hating, tree-hugging commie.

I've learned to live with it...

[GulfCoast66]

13. I like all the things you do

I was just responding to a post that described truck drivers in a very negative manner. I drive a truck. And would love an electric one.

Have a nice evening

[Baconator]

9. Hardly...

If I could get an electric or hybrid with even 80% of the capabilities of my F-150, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Also... Stereotype much?

[politicat]

10. Not here, if it's a smaller pickup.

I've been wanting something in the Toyota Luv size range for about 15 years, but those don't exist right now. I've bought hatchbacks with flat fold rear seats instead, and it's pretty close. I do not want a large truck and don't have room for a large one in our garage. I know I'm not alone in opting for a smaller SUV or minivan or hatchback when what I really wanted was a small pickup or a real station wagon. (Yes, I know Subaru makes station wagons. My 6'4" spouse does not fit in a Subie without significant dashboard modification.)

My next car will be electric or hybrid, and I've been really happy with my Kia Soul, so I've been planning for an electric Soul when my current one gets beyond repairable. (Not likely any time soon; it's 7 years old with 60K miles. I'm expecting 5-10 years at least.) But if Tesla produces a smaller pickup, I'll take them up on it.

[phleshdef]

16. Thats only true for people who own one without the need for it.

If and when I ever retire out to the countryside of Ohio some day, I'll probably buy a pickup truck for hauling stuff, pulling the boat I hope to buy, etc. But right now I live in the city. I don't own any large, gas guzzling vehicles because it isn't practical.

[Xolodno]

21. I'd say its a mixed bag.

People who use pick-ups for work like contractors (such as my brother) salivate heavily at the thought of an electric pick-up. Gas is a major business expense and one of those line items that can eat into your profits if the job is further away than most, but can't bump up the price in order to be competitive.

But for the guy who has tuck nuts, raises his pick up, never even used the bed, guns it aggressively whenever possible, etc. Yeah, they will never buy an electric. Much like those who bought a Hummer and never took it off road, so much so, they were even afraid to park it on a dirt lot.

[Aristus]

23. Those are the people I was talking about.

Where I live, just outside of Tacoma, Washington, I have to give a wide berth on the road to aircraft carrier-sized pickup trucks with pristine, unscratched paintjobs and cargo beds that have never transported cargo of any kind.

I'll never forget a couple of years ago, when President Obama announced new fuel-efficiency ratings, a bunch of right-wing shovelheads rigged their trucks to spew as much pollution as possible into the air. The fucking childishness of that made my head spin. I can't believe I have to share my planet with people like that. I don't see where I owe them anything by not making fun of their trucks.

[snooper2]

28. The width of a 2016 F-150 is 79.9″

The width of a 2016 Honda Odyssey is 79.2"

[harun]

30. Completely missing the point. Tesla's semi's in the very near future will not have drivers.

They are to be completely automated.

In 20-30 years there won't be human semi truck drivers anymore.

[msongs]

6. wish my nissan nv2000 was electric. on a small island not too far to go lol nt

[NWCorona]

25. EV conversions are getting cheaper and cheaper. If I lived on an island I'd do it.

[jmowreader]

14. An electric semi would be great for local deliveries

Example: The Budweiser distributor in my area runs a fleet of 40-foot beverage trailers. The only ones that run over 100 miles a day go to the county south of mine and to the county north of mine. Everyone else is doing in-town runs...drive two blocks, shut down, deliver and refire, drive three blocks, shut down, deliver and refire...all day long. Never mind the pollution, think about all the fuel they're burning on those restarts and all the excess crap in their oil. Great job for an electric truck.

The only way you could possibly survive with an electric over-the-road rig is to run three-man teams. Solo drivers couldn't pull it off because of the hours of service regs, and a two-man team would eventually get caught between the FMCSA and the battery charger, but a three-man would work - switch drivers at every battery charge and never stop moving. All three of them would eventually starve to death from lack of money, but the freight would get there.

I've said it before and will again now: The Future Of Transportation can't rely on one energy source. There's going to be rail, trucks, planes, ships, electric cars, and yes there will be some liquid fuel in the mix. There are things it will always do better than anything else.

[denbot]

15. You can charge any time your truck coasts, at 75mph I can coast for 1/4 mile @ 70+mph.

Add an APU and you can charge as needed to get you to a station. It's not yet feasible if the battery capacity is inline with a car, but a semi can carry a lot of fuel. I carry over 1,500lbs of diesel fuel after filling, a good question is how much kilowatts per battery, and how many batteries would the rig carry?

[GliderGuider]

17. Anything to keep the gears of civilization spinning, grinding the planet to dust. nt

[dembotoz]

18. their products seem on the expensive side

luxury pickups seem somewhat rare...loaded up yes they can be expensive but outside of range rover the luxury nameplates seem not as common in this type of vehicle

i see a vehicle as a work tool....a very expensive work tool would have to be very special to cost justify

i see mercedes advertises some work truck but they have lower than would be expected price points....at least according to them.