Tesla has shared new details about its redesigned Semi through a new episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Leno, who frequently covers Tesla vehicles, offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the electric truck’s latest updates
In the 47-minute video, Leno is joined by Tesla Semi lead Dan Priestley and chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, who walk through a long list of updates to the electric Class 8 truck as Tesla prepares for volume production this year.
One of the biggest reveals was just how much Tesla has changed under the skin. Priestley said the production version of the Semi is about 1,000 lbs lighter than the previous version, a notable improvement for a vehicle where every pound matters. Tesla also confirmed the truck now uses a 48-volt architecture, after the Cybertruck became the first production vehicle to use the low-voltage battery architecture, fully electric steering assist instead of hydraulic assist, and beefed-up steering actuators, also derived from the Cybertruck. The battery pack uses 4680 cells and, according to Tesla, is designed for a 1,000,000 mile (1,609,344 kms) lifespan.
Tesla also used the video to make a stronger case for the Semi’s economics. Priestley said the truck is about 50% cheaper to operate on a per-mile basis in California, and about 20% cheaper across the U.S. when energy, fuel, and maintenance are all included. Tesla says those savings are backed by real-world use, not just simulations.
According to Priestley, there are now a few hundred Semis in commercial service that have collectively traveled 13.5 million miles (2.17 million km), with one truck nearing 440,000 miles (778,000 km) on its own. He also claimed the fleet is achieving 95% uptime, and those that do break down are typically fixed within less than 24 hours, and about half of those in under one hour.
The updated Semi appears to be tailored for different use cases as well. Tesla says the Long Range version can travel 500 miles (804 km), while a Standard Range variant offers 325 miles (523 km) with a shorter wheelbase. These two variants are expected to be priced at US$260,000 and US$290,000 respectively.
The Standard Range version is also more maneuverable, with Priestley claiming it has a turning radius roughly comparable to a Model Y. Leno seemed impressed after trying it himself, saying simply, “Nice turning radius. Boy that’s pretty amazing.”
Perhaps the most interesting reveal was what could be coming next. While discussing charging, Priestley said Tesla sees “an opportunity for doing automated charging,” adding that the company is also exploring a system where the vehicle could simply drive over a charging pad for what he described as “conductive charge.”
Tesla has talked before about wireless charging for its Cybercab and potentially its passenger vehicles as well, but this is the first indication yet that some kind of automated or wireless charging solution could also be coming to the Semi. As Tesla has previously revealed, the Semi can charge at up to 1.2 megawatts (MW) using their Megachargers.
You can watch the full review below.
