A decade after Tesla first showcased the Semi in 2017, the Class 8 truck has finally entered volume production, the automaker said at a launch event at its Gigafactory Nevada on Thursday. The first deliveries begin this week, the automaker said.
The all-electric big rig arrives at a high-stakes moment for commercial freight, as diesel prices sit at a record high due to the wars in Ukraine and Iran. They’re averaging over $6.50 per gallon in the U.S. as of writing, threatening to push up costs for everything from freight rates to grocery bills for everyday Americans.
The all-electric Semi could help businesses better manage their costs over time compared to diesel trucks, according to Tesla. “The cost of electricity per mile is much less than the cost of diesel, especially in these crazy times,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a prerecorded video played at the event.
To support the growing fleet of Semis, Tesla executies said it plans to roll out 30 Megacharger locations, with a total of 200 megawatt-capable posts, in the U.S. by the end of this year. The Megacharger network will also be open to other electric truck manufacturers, similar to how Tesla opened up the Supercharger network for all EVs. Tesla said many owners will prefer to charge it overnight using its slower, 125 kW Basechargers, which can be installed at fleet depots.
The Semi won’t be able to charge at everyday Tesla Superchargers that owners of its passenger EVs use. It comes equipped with the Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) connector.
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