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Tesla Semi

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411–420 of 575 posts

Re: Tesla Semi

#411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's incredible how you trivialize SpaceX achievements. I get it that you probably hate Elon Musk for whatever reason. But you should really calibrate your bias filter.

I love some of his other achievements with Tesla and with solar roofing tiles, but SpaceX has a lot of hype surrounding it.

I think you've got this totally back-to-front.

Tesla makes cars. We've known how to make cars for a while now - even electric cars. What was critical for Tesla was the vision: to see that we were approaching a tipping point where battery technology and cost would make a fully- (and only-) electric car feasible, and the strength of mind and purpose to ignore and/or out-think peoples' legacy objections and misgivings - e.g. with the Supercharger network. There are some Musk-ian details that are advances, such as the single integrated computer system, but that's a relatively small part of the whole.

In contrast, yes, SpaceX (just!) makes rockets, and yes, we've known how to make rockets for a long time. But they have done some things that the rest of the rocket industry haven't even got close to. Firstly, they've revolutionised the process and cost of producing a rocket in this class, by insourcing so much of it, and rethinking the necessary components and technology. Secondly, they've taken the concept of re-use and made it orders of magnitude cheaper (versus, what, the Shuttle?) than before, to the extent that it has/will completely turn the industry on its head. And the techniques and technology they've pioneered to facilitate this --not least the ability to land a 70m rocket upright on a robot barge floating out at sea-- are genuinely, truly revolutionary.

Re: Tesla Semi

#412
It's cute. No trucking company is going to add it to it's fleet though... after thinking about SigmundA's research and coming from a family of Truckers - I can't see how this will help/work. It's just a cool thing to see and boost company image. Trucker's don't want to drive a lone. Trucker's usually have people along for a ride or a sleeper cab. Sitting in the middle would suck. I sincerely doubt this thing can haul loads of more than 12.5tons.

Re: Tesla Semi

#413
post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The iPhoneX has the strongest glass. … but actually breaks easier than the iPhone 8 glass.

Are you sure? I saw a YouTube drop test video and the iPhone X survived multiple drops from head height (~66") onto concrete without breaking, but the iPhone 8 shattered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vHCBwJVeO4 I've dropped my case-less iPhone X 5 feet onto bathroom tile and not even a noticeable scratch afterwards.

https://www.test.de/Apple-iPhone-X-Das-zerbrechlichste-iPhon...

(German Consumer report: iPhone X is most brittle of all iPhones)

Re: Tesla Semi

#414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He states that they have spent a lot of time talking to truckers and truck companies. I would guess they believe that with an electric drive train repairs and maintenance will be an order of magnitude lower (not sure how that works for tires and wheels). Body damage should also be much lower with automatic breaking and other features of enhanced autopilot. As Musk said, broken glass is a big cost for trucking as you…

Over the last centuries there were a number of truck and bus manufacturers who tried the single/middle seat design. It was never a seller for any of those. If you take someone with you, you don't want to sit him/her to sit behind you. You want them to sit next to you. If you are on the road in the city, you have often colleagues with you, like in a moving company and alike. Such trucks are used in construction work w…

I wouldn't be surprised if the next version included more seats (rearranged towards the cabin center because the driver no longer has to drive), or zero seats (because the driver* no longer has to drive).

Definitely feels like an intentional step towards "don't worry, Tesla will be driving these for you soon anyway".

Re: Tesla Semi

#415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, the glass is "thermonuclear explosionproof," whatever that's supposed to mean. They are claiming it will never need replacing. Musk did dwell on that for quite a while in his talk.

Indestructible materials solve the problems with the wheel shrouds too.

Right, the only problem being that they don't exist.

Re: Tesla Semi

#416
post #384

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty sure Model 3 production is going amazingly well, yeah. Astoundingly well. But the media's portrayal of it has people convinced otherwise. Let's try this perspective instead: "Decade-old electric car company moves up plan for mass production of new affordable long-range sedan by 2 years" And then ask ourselves, after moving it up by 2 years, does a 3-month delay mean "things are going badly"? If I say I'm going…

> If I say I'm going to leap 500 feet, and then I leap 450 feet, do you say I failed? Yes, that's what the word failed means.

Considering the long jump record is 30ft, I'd say he technically failed his lofty goal, but was still more successful at jumping than anyone else.

I think that's the point the OP above is trying to get at.

Re: Tesla Semi

#417

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…

Well, the glass is "thermonuclear explosionproof," whatever that's supposed to mean. They are claiming it will never need replacing. Musk did dwell on that for quite a while in his talk.

When the last nuke went off in North Korea, my car window didn't break either. Amazing!

Re: Tesla Semi

#418

One downside to the centre driving position - what about if you want to take a companion with you on the road?

There's a jump seat behind and to the right of the driver.

Large agricultural vehicles have always had a central driving position.

Re: Tesla Semi

#419
post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the side windows are not that strong? Interesting question nonetheless.

Strong glass doesn't necessary has to be hard to remove glass. Those are two different things. Pressing a mechanical button or two should easily disassemble the glass gracefully. At the same while the glass is fixed it should ideally be immune to damage.

Mechanical buttons have a tendency not to work after big impacts/accidents.

Re: Tesla Semi

#420
post #394
post #153

I'm a product manager at a telematics company. I've talked to a lot of folks in the long haul trucking space, from drivers to back office folks to service managers. I'll be surprised if this truck catches on. The trucking industry has a huge urge to do everything themselves, all the big guys have full service garages in their many yards across the country. This truck seems essentially unserviceable by anyone other th…

And how much servicing do you think it needs? New tires and rarely new brakes and you're good to go. I'm sure any "servicing yard" will be able to handle that.

Yep, big rigs are just a couple of tires and brakes. No glass, shocks, computer systems, hitches, cabling for trailers, lights, body pieces, or anything else.

Just brakes and tires.

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