Tesla says pulling an 80,000 pound load, its tractor/trailer will do 0-to-60 in 20 seconds, climb 5% grades at 65 mph; first trucks targeting availability in 2019

Tesla has posted the price point for its coming semi-truck at $150,000 for the 300-mile-range base model, $180,000 for the 500-mile-range model, and $200,000 for the “Founder’s Series.”

The world of Elon Musk uses a hipper, less formal business communications lexicon than just about any other traditional, publicly traded business. Looser rules seem to be standard for Musk, an entrepreneur CEO who thinks way out of the box, sometimes wears tee shirts at company events and is known for pursuing non-traditional commercial dreams like Tesla Inc.’s (ticker: TSLA) high-performing all-electric luxury sedans, SpaceX and Hyperloop.

Tesla Estimates Electric Semi-Truck Price at $150,000 - $200,000

Tesla Chairman Elon Musk

On the Tesla website, the section dedicated to its recently unveiled semi-truck, a bold headline uses today’s edgy slang to make a point about the new Tesla big rig in only two words: “Badass Performance.”

Tesla Publishes Electric Semi-Truck Price at $150,000 - $200,000

Source: Tesla Inc.

Imagine a day that Exxon (ticker: XOM), Shell (ticker: RDS.A) or ConocoPhillips (ticker: COP) will employ the same phrase to describe a profitable quarter.

Tesla’s website also reports that its new semi is the “safest truck ever,” by virtue of an enhanced autopilot that helps avoid collisions, a centered driver position and a low center of gravity that offers rollover protection. But the real key to it all may be Tesla’s claim that electric energy costs are half those of diesel. “With fewer systems to maintain, the Tesla Semi provides $200,000+ in fuel savings and a two-year payback period,” the company says.

Tesla Publishes Electric Semi-Truck Price at $150,000 - $200,000

Source: Tesla Inc.


In a 2014 story called “Big Rigs, Big Costs” FleetOwner magazine examined the economics of buying and operating a diesel big rig.

According to FleetOwner, “a few of the more eye-opening data points” include:

  • Filling a big rig’s gas tank is equivalent to filling 18 mid-size cars.
  • Long haul drivers average 100,000-110,000 miles per year.
  • The cost of running one big rig could be more than $185,000 per year.
  • Two-thirds of the costs are vehicle based, while the other third is driver-based.

In a 2014 report, Frost & Sullivan estimated the average cost of a new tractor-trailer to range between $140,000 and $175,000 – anywhere from $110,000 to $125,000 for a new tractor and $30,000 to $50,000 for a new trailer, the magazine reported.

Tesla prices new semi-truck

Infographic from Atlas Van Lines

Tesla prices new semi-truck

Infographic: Atlas Van Lines


Not so down-to-earth

On the rocket side of things in the Elon Musk universe, Reuters reported this week that SpaceX has raised another $100 million by selling shares, in an extension to a financing round earlier this year that raised up to $350 million, according to SEC filings.

Besides its commercial and Earth-orbiting satellite rocket launch business, Musk’s SpaceX has goals for a trip to Mars in 2022 and a manned mission to the red planet by 2024.

“Our aspirational goal is to send our first cargo mission to Mars in 2022. The objectives for the first mission will be to confirm water resources and identify hazards along with putting in place initial power, mining, and life support infrastructure.

“A second mission, with both cargo and crew, is targeted for 2024, with primary objectives of building a propellant depot and preparing for future crew flights.

“The ships from these initial missions will also serve as the beginnings of our first Mars base, from which we can build a thriving city and eventually a self-sustaining civilization on Mars,” the SpaceX website reports.

Tesla Publishes Electric Semi-Truck Price at $150,000 - $200,000

Source: SpaceX Moon Base Rendering

 

 

 


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