Tesla Semi

Tesla Semi at a glance

The Semi follows the idea of Tesla's passenger cars, such as the Tesla Model S, applied to the heaviest road vehicles. The diesel engine and gearbox give way to electric motors, a large battery and software. The cab is unusual for a truck, with a central driving position between two large touchscreens. Its low, rounded nose gives a drag coefficient of 0.36, against more than 0.4 for typical tractors, according to the 2017 presentation.

The 2017 promise and the long delay

Tesla first described an electric truck in its 2016 Master Plan, and the prototype was revealed in November 2017 near Los Angeles. The company quoted versions with 300 and 500 miles of range, about 480 and 800 km, at a gross combination weight of about 36 tonnes (80,000 lb). A "Megacharger" was to add about 640 km of range in 30 minutes. According to the old 1cars report of the launch, Tesla also claimed 0–100 km/h in about 5 seconds without a trailer and promised a powertrain warranty of 1.6 million km (1 million miles).

Production was planned for 2019, then moved to the end of 2021 and then to 2023. Tesla finally started building the truck in October 2022, after a Semi completed a 500-mile (805 km) drive at a weight of 81,000 lb (about 36.7 tonnes).

From pilot fleet to volume production

PepsiCo used its first trucks on Frito-Lay snack routes of about 680 km (425 miles) and on heavier drinks routes of about 160 km (100 miles). Independent fleet data is encouraging. The NFI group measured 1.64 kWh per mile in August 2024. DHL reported 1.72 kWh per mile in October 2024 at 75,000 lb (34 tonnes) gross, covering 624 km (388 miles) on one charge. Tesla says the prototype fleet has covered more than 21.7 million km (13.5 million miles) with 95% uptime.

2026 specifications

The redesigned truck has a sleeker front and weighs about 450 kg (1,000 lb) less than before. A 48-volt low-voltage system and an electric power take-off of about 25 kW can drive refrigeration units and other equipment. Regenerative braking returns energy to the battery on descents and reduces brake wear.

Running costs and price

Electric trucks cost more to buy and less to run. US press reports in March 2026 put the price of the Semi at about twice that of a diesel tractor. Tesla claims operating costs 20% below diesel across the USA and 50% below in California. Tesla has not announced a European price or launch. At about 106 kWh per 100 km, the Semi uses roughly as much energy as five or six electric cars. A typical diesel tractor burns about 35 litres per 100 km, according to the old 1cars report.

Safety and incidents

In August 2024 a Semi caught fire after a crash in California and closed a motorway for 16 hours. Firefighters used about 190,000 litres (50,000 US gallons) of water to put it out, which shows how hard large lithium-ion battery fires are to fight. Tesla says 75–80% of breakdowns in its fleet are fixed within 24 hours.

Rivals: electric heavy trucks

The Tesla offers the largest battery and the longest claimed range in this group: about 305 km more than the eActros 600 in its long-range form. Compare trucks in the 1cars comparison tool or see the most powerful trucks ranking.