You Like Trucks? We've Got Two Trucks Coming, Says Tesla

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

If Tesla CEO Elon Musk knows what’s good for him — and his bottom line — he’ll arrange a product placement in a Hollywood remake of Smokey and the Bandit, probably starring Ryan Reynolds. Maybe that Stifler guy, if he’s still bankable.

America’s electric-only automaker figures it has the conventional EV passenger car and SUV markets covered, so it’s time to fulfill a promise made last year: trucks. Specifically, a pickup and a semi truck, the first of which is due for an unveiling this year.

As the New York Auto Show hoopla died down on Friday, Musk took to Twitter to give a status update on these products.

“Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September,” the CEO tweeted. “Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level.”

One can only hope that technicians see fit to pipe C.W. McCall’s ‘Convoy’ into that venue.

The new products are part of Musk’s so-called “Master Plan, Part Deux,” which was detailed in a blog post last July. The details were — and still are — scarce, though he made it clear that an expansion into trucking and transit was a key part of Tesla’s future.

“We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate,” Musk wrote.

It’s hard to guess the range of such a vehicle, its cost, or how long a recharging might take. Long-haul trucking companies seem perfectly happy with their diesel-powered fleets, and gassing up certainly beats juicing up a vast battery pack when lost minutes equal dollars. Still, Musk wouldn’t bother if he didn’t feel a market existed. (Or a usable range was achievable).

To make such a vehicle viable, the country’s recharging network would require an upsizing, both in voltage and in real estate.

“Given the happily consolidated nature of the domestic truck manufacturing market, the prospect of a new competitive threat, from a company with previous success in disrupting established industries nonetheless, is undoubtedly unwelcomed news,” wrote Michael Baudendistel, a Stifel Financial Corp. analyst, in a Monday report.

While the commercial truck world worries about disruption from Tesla, light truck producers are keeping an eye on the EV maker’s second planned product. Musk tweeted that the company’s pickup truck will drop the curtain in 18 to 24 months.

Whether the Tesla pickup will debut as a fullsize or midsize remains to be seen, but both markets are extremely healthy. Still, it’s not likely that someone pining for an entry-level Chevrolet Colorado will hold out for an electric model that promises a higher price and the potential for a lighter payload capacity. Using Tesla’s existing products as a guide, it’s easy to see the truck as a four-door, unibody vehicle, similar to Honda’s Ridgeline.

Green appeal remains a fickle thing, so it might not just be west coast landscapers interested in such a model.

[Source: Trucks]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Addm Addm on Apr 19, 2017

    There are lot of expert here ready to conclude this is not possible. But I doubt any of these experts have done any basic physics to come to their conclusion. I dont think their judgement would have any different if it was introduction of Model S

  • Packardhell1 Packardhell1 on Apr 20, 2017

    I'm not sure how the logistics would work out, but range seems to be a concern in this discussion. Semi + trailer = a lot of flat surfaces. Would it be plausible to cover some of that with solar panels and possibly batteries underneath? For example, have the top of the trailer be a giant solar panel and the space under the trailer (where there is a lot of empty space) be batteries. I get there are safety hazards that would have to be addressed, but that may also lower the trailer's center of gravity. It may also allow an electric motor for the trailer's tires as well. Living in Illinois, I'm picturing snowy and icy conditions where interstates slow down and some trucks have trouble making it up some hills. Added traction would be nice on the interstate or in town. I'm not sure how much that would cost to add to trailers, but the batteries could be plugged into the tractor's feed as well for its engine to use. That may not solve the range issue, but it may extend it a bit.

    • Vulpine Vulpine on Apr 20, 2017

      Very forward thinking, packard. Everything you mention could significantly improve the truck's overall performance over time. Doubt we'd see it right away but don't doubt we would see it.

  • Arthur Dailey Good. Whatever upsets the Chinese government is fine with me. And yes they are probably monitoring this thread/site.
  • Jalop1991 WTO--the BBB of the international trade world.
  • Dukeisduke If this is really a supplier issue (Dana-Spicer? American Axle?), Kia should step up and say they're going to repair the vehicles (the electronic parking brake change is a temporary fix) and lean on or sue the supplier to force them to reimburse Kia Motors for the cost of the recall.Neglecting the shaft repairs are just going to make for some expensive repairs for the owners down the road.
  • MaintenanceCosts But we were all told that Joe Biden does whatever China commands him to!
  • Rick T. If we really cared that much about climate change, shouldn't we letting in as many EV's as possible as cheaply as possible?
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