Where is the Tesla Semi?

[move on]

Is the long awaited Tesla Semi dead? The last we heard was that the project is delayed because there are not enough battery cells available to build the 500 kwh battery packs. Then the other day the chief executive on the Semi project mysteriously left the company. I think it's possible that the Semi has hit a technological brick wall: running an 80,000 lb vehicle on lithium batteries is doomed to economic failure and we are never going to see one rolling down the road. The big question is, if the project does get cancelled, what is this going to mean for the company, its investors and for Elon Musk? Will they all crash along with the Semi?

[TXiceman]

I agree. The electric semi is not something that is not ready for prime-time.

Ken

[move on]

The same goes for electric RVs. The idea is dead. There will never be enough lithium batteries available for these applications. We're lucky enough to have them for cell phones, eBikes and hybrid applications.

[radar]

Well, if it is or is going to be cancelled then Frito-Lays is going to be pissed as they just finished installing Mega chargers at some of their depots to accomodate the Tesla Semis they have on order. Stay tuned I suppose.

And as far as Tesla crashing. Who knows in the long run. But at least for now they are a fairly successful and fast growing company with a kick-a$$ Supercharger network. They’ll probably close out the year building 3000 cars a day worldwide. Not bad for a company everybody said would be gone by 2017. .

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesm...uck-approaches

[move on]

Yes. I'm sure they are not going to like it. I don't like it either. But I think it's inevitable that a lot of people will get burned.

[radar]

Originally Posted by move on

Yes. I'm sure they are not going to like it. I don't like it either. But I think it's inevitable that a lot of people will get burned.

Time will tell. Hope they make it. Lots of good jobs and really the only competitive North American EV maker. If they go down China and Europe will be the major EV builders of the world.

[radar]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Waiting and batteries from china?

Batteries for Chinese Tesla’s are built in China. Batteries for American made Tesla’s come from Nevada or Japan. German Tesla batteries will be built in Germany.

Tesla is one of the highest “North American Content” vehicles sold. Most of the battery R&D comes from Tesla Canada and all the battery manufacturing for models 3 and Y come from Nevada.

Some of the raw materials for batteries come from China and some of the Aluminum from Canada although there are lithium and nickel mines in the US and Canada being developed right now. Should be an interesting decade.

[radar]

Interesting read.

Tesla dominates American made 2020 index.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/electrek...automaker/amp/

[radar]

I’m sure they’ll sell as many of these as they can build. Jay Leno even likes it.

https://youtu.be/5zkIDLk9Qao

[move on]

EVs are not doubt great performance vehicles. The problem I have with the EV revolution is that it's built upon the false premise that the earth is warming due to fossil fuel use, and that it's built upon the false economy of government subsidies. Take away the false premise and the false economy and let's see how much of the EV revolution remains.

[radar]

Originally Posted by move on

EVs are not doubt great performance vehicles. The problem I have with the EV revolution is that it's built upon the false premise that the earth is warming due to fossil fuel use, and that it's built upon the false economy of government subsidies. Take away the false premise and the false economy and let's see how much of the EV revolution remains.

Well my friend I think you and I disagree on this angle. But that’s ok. Discussion is good. In my opinion most people who are buying EV’s buy them for reasons like performance, convenience and tech. And for some with long commutes who buy on payments the fuel and maintenance savings are as much as the payment essentially making the car free. I run into VERY FEW EV drivers that have any kind of climate change agenda (including me). But many do like the clean air aspect of them. Garages that don’t stink. Power on tap. Quiet. EV’s aren’t a little better. They are A LOT better.

Re subsidies. I have no problem with reasonable subsidies in either the petroleum or alternative energy industries. There is a place for government leadership. That is working well for us in B.C. in my opinion And after all I’m a a socialist (but don’t hold that against me).

Either way it’s fun watching the new tech and as always it’s always a pleasure discussing it with you. You bring some good observations to the discussion.

Cheers and stay safe on the road.

[move on]

[Mod Edit] We will never agree. But maybe we can agree on some technical issues.

I think we can agree that there are some great benefits associated with lithium batteries and their automotive applications, but I don't see that electric semis are one of them. Diesel engines on long haul trucks are already a pretty efficient way of moving freight. We can use batteries not to replace them but to make them even more efficient by incorporating hybrid and other electric features. I don't see why we can't eventually make them more efficient than the electric grid with all its transmission and distribution losses. This can be done with, say, a 5 kwh battery instead of a 500 kwh battery.

[radar]

Originally Posted by move on

[Mod Edit]

I think we can agree that there are some great benefits associated with lithium batteries and their automotive applications, but I don't see that electric semis are one of them. Diesel engines on long haul trucks are already a pretty efficient way of moving freight. We can use batteries not to replace them but to make them even more efficient by incorporating hybrid and other electric features. I don't see why we can't eventually make them more efficient than the electric grid with all its transmission and distribution losses. This can be done with, say, a 5 kwh battery instead of a 500 kwh battery.

Yah that all makes sense although I don’t know enough to know what sized battery would be ideal. I think diesel long haul point to point trucking will be dominated by diesel ir as you say diesel hybrid for decades in many parts of the world. However I think EV semis will be economically superior in shorter depot to depot operations in the 200 to 400 kilometre range. As well, certainly city busses and school busses will migrate to electric in tge next ten years. Our little town is already replacing a few school busses every year with straight electric. I followed one the other day. Kinda cool.

OMG . What the hell just happened. A socialist and a capitalist agreeing. That can’t be. . There goes the neighbourhood. .

Cheers.

[RWeigant]

I believe the future is in Electromagnetic Induction. Coils of wire will be inbeded in the roadway to create a magnetic field when current passes through it. This will charge your batteries while you drive on the freeway. Same as the garage chargers that lay flat under the car. This will provide endless charging for Big rigs and RV's.