Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/911782
28 | Overdrive | December 2017 REDEFINED said at 80,000 pounds, the electric truck can hit 60 mph in 20 seconds – about a third of a diesel truck's time – and that it can climb a 5 percent grade at a steady 65 mph. "We wanted a vehicle that feels incredible, that acceler- ates like nothing else," Musk said. That power is provided by two motors on each rear axle. The motors are derived from those deployed in the Tesla Model 3 and offer inde- pendent torque control. Regenerative braking recovers 98 percent of kinetic energy to the battery, giving it a basically infinite brake life, assuming the driver skips the footbrake and let the regen- erative brake stop the tractor, Tesla said. With no engine, transmis- sion, aftertreatment system or differential for upkeep, Tesla lauds the Semi's reduced maintenance needs. However, the company believes the most significant cost advan- tage comes from savings in energy costs. Coupled with the low and historically less volatile nature of electric- Available for all brands! DieselSpec_OVD1117_PG.indd 1 10/19/17 8:58 AM The Tesla Semi's spacious cab offers full stand- ing height. "You're positioned like you're in a racecar," said company CEO Elon Musk. "You have complete visibility of the road." Most notable is the driver's seat place- ment in the cab's center. Two multipurpose touchscreen displays are positioned on either side of the driver and provide easy access to navigation, blind-spot monitoring and electronic logs. One screen features views from cameras mounted under the side mirrors, eliminating the corner blind spot. The entry point is behind the center seat. In the daycab configuration, the passenger seat is mounted to the rear wall. There is no instrument cluster facing the driv- er. Truck data is fed to the display to the driver's left. The small steering wheel is racecar-inspired. The truck's doors open in reverse, sui- cide-style, as the company removed the front pillar where the vent-style side windows now are located. The truck's fully electric HVAC system doesn't require idling. All lighting is LED. Front marker lights have been moved from the roof to a strip behind the windshield, a nod to improved aerodynamics and the removal of leak points. By eliminating the engine's hum, Tesla also has eliminated the truck's white noise filter, meaning every other noise stands out more. To combat that, the company says it trained its focus on ensuring the cab was fit tightly and sealed against creaks and rattles. Inside: Front and center