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Tesla Semi

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Re: Tesla Semi

#201

Post by mkempe »

colek42 wrote: post #145

He mentions that the mega chargers will all be solar powered. I don't know how this will be possible as the user base grows. The amount of energy needed for even a small fleet will be huge.

In the year to 2017-Aug, total US solar generation was 72.1 TWh, amounting to 1.80% of total US electricity (predicted to reach 5% by 2022; in 2016 US solar capacity almost doubled from the year before).

Tesla semi consumption: One charge: 500 miles => There are about 2 million semi trucks in the US (tractor trailers). Assume that each semi fully charges once a day, 300 days a year.

The conversion of all of the country's semis to Tesla vehicles powered with solar generation requires under 600 TWh a year, eight times current US solar level; still only 15% of current total US electricity generation. Likely within 10 years, or sooner.

Re: Tesla Semi

#202

Post by njarboe »

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #135
King-Aaron wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Because the days of a service manual and a backyard shed are over They really aren't, as much as the manufacturers like to tell you they are. Sure, the sheer amount of sensors/vacuum systems/electronics/etc make it look too complex for the layman, but as long as you've got an OBD scanner and a laptop, you can make quick work of most things. The biggest issue is manufacturers currently having an obsession with inver…

Security screws on purchasable goods really need to be banned for anything that doesn't pose an immediate and extreme health and safety hazard.

And I don't think anything sold in the US today, not to the Department of Defense, has anything that poses "an immediate and extreme health and safety hazard".

Re: Tesla Semi

#204

Post by njarboe »

taneq wrote: post #182
PhasmaFelis wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's not going to be acceptable to send it to some far away service center to be repaired, at least for small outfits that heavily use all their equipment. Hmmm. Doesn't Tesla usually offer a loaner car while a Tesla is in for repairs? If they did the same thing with semis, would shipping companies accept it?

So sort of a subscription model for trucks? You buy (or more likely rent) "a truck" and Tesla supplies you with "a truck" but it's not necessarily always the same truck?

Musk talked about people leasing these trucks, not buying them, so maybe that is the current plan.

Re: Tesla Semi

#205

Post by nevir »

davnn wrote: post #195
coldsauce wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of trucking companies aren't big enough to be able to have in house shops.

Not source checked but it appears that 96% of trucking companies have 28 trucks or less and 82% operate with less than 6 trucks. http://www.truckingoffice.com/2012/interesting-trucking-indu...

Vast majority have far fewer than 10 trucks.

Re: Tesla Semi

#206

Post by jabretti »

gsnedders wrote: post #148
jjcm wrote: post #104

Details for those that couldn't watch the live stream: -500 mile range on a full charge. On empty 30 min of charging will get you 400 miles. -Lower drag coefficient than a bugatti veyron -They're claiming cost per mile is less than rail for shipping goods. -2019 availability -Lane centering + other features (jack knife prevention) -1,000,000 mile guarantee ---------------- Also they surprised announced a new roadster…

> -Lower drag coefficient than a bugatti veyron This isn't anywhere near as impressive as one might think: a Veyron has a pretty bad drag coefficient because of the amount of cooling intakes it has (turns out cooling an engine producing over 1000PS takes a lot of air).

Yep, my car has a lower drag coefficient than a Veyron, and yours probably does too.

A Chevy Tahoe has a lower drag coefficient than a Veyron. One of those super-boxy 80s Volvos has a lower drag coefficient than a Veyron.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient

Re: Tesla Semi

#207

Post by hilbertseries »

aerovistae wrote: post #192
nwmcsween wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then it's dead out of the gate, almost every trucking company in existence does in house repairs due to cost.

Call me a fanboy, but something tells me that the guy who built a revolutionary space program from scratch while successfully running a revolutionary auto company, probably has some ability to think things through pretty comprehensively from all angles and plan effectively for what's needed. Do you think you've just pointed out something that never occurred to him? Do you think if you could share your comments with h…

>think things through pretty comprehensively from all angles and plan effectively for what's needed.

Is that why model 3 production is going so well?

Re: Tesla Semi

#208

Post by isaiahg »

nwmcsween wrote: post #132

Ok as a mechanic a few million questions: * What happens when a wheel seal goes? Do I have to remove all that ridiculous plastic on #2,3 axels?? * What happens when a tire blows? Is it going to destroy all that plastic and take out a few more tires in the process? * Why all the glass? I've spend entire days replacing windshields for a 12 or so truck shop which generally come in two (drivers and passengers), the Tesla…

You should probably watch the actual reveal, it's already on YouTube. The glass was already addressed and he gave it a specific focus. Even claiming it can withstand an atomic blast.

Re: Tesla Semi

#209

Post by _Codemonkeyism »

gsnedders wrote: post #148
jjcm wrote: post #104

Details for those that couldn't watch the live stream: -500 mile range on a full charge. On empty 30 min of charging will get you 400 miles. -Lower drag coefficient than a bugatti veyron -They're claiming cost per mile is less than rail for shipping goods. -2019 availability -Lane centering + other features (jack knife prevention) -1,000,000 mile guarantee ---------------- Also they surprised announced a new roadster…

> -Lower drag coefficient than a bugatti veyron This isn't anywhere near as impressive as one might think: a Veyron has a pretty bad drag coefficient because of the amount of cooling intakes it has (turns out cooling an engine producing over 1000PS takes a lot of air).

That is the reason they chose that comparison. a.) everyone thinks a Veyron must have a good coefficient b.) they know it's not that good. Basics of modern marketing (also "low fat high sugar", "low carb high fat", "organic sugar", ...)

Re: Tesla Semi

#210

Post by colordrops »

hilbertseries wrote: post #207
aerovistae wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Call me a fanboy, but something tells me that the guy who built a revolutionary space program from scratch while successfully running a revolutionary auto company, probably has some ability to think things through pretty comprehensively from all angles and plan effectively for what's needed. Do you think you've just pointed out something that never occurred to him? Do you think if you could share your comments with h…

>think things through pretty comprehensively from all angles and plan effectively for what's needed. Is that why model 3 production is going so well?

I've seen dozens of them around LA. Give it a few months and if it doesn't ramp then there might be a problem.
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