Autocar RSS Feed: Tesla Semi lorry revealed with 5sec 0-60mph time

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Tesla Semi lorry revealed with 5sec 0-60mph time Nov 17th 2017, 08:06 Lorry can tow 36 tonnes and is claimed to be capable of hitting 60mph in 20sec even when fully loaded The Tesla Semi has been revealed - with production for the all-electric lorry due to begin in 2019. At an unveil event last night in Hawthorne, California, where the brand also showed a new Roadster sports car, company CEO Elon Musk said that his new machine, which has simply been referred to as the Tesla Truck up until now, was capable of acclerating from 0-60mph in 5sec. He said it was also able to hit the mark in 20sec even when laden with a trailer fully loaded with 80,000 lbs (almost 36 tonnes) of cargo. This trumps the average sprint time for regular diesel-powered rivals by around 40sec. The lorry's energy recovery systems are claimed to be capable of recoring 98% of kinetic energy to the battery. For regular charging, the lorry can be connected to so-called Megachargers, which is a new high-speed DC charging solution, that is said to add about 400 miles in 30 minutes and can be installed at origin or destination points, much like the existing Superchargers. Efficiency is boosted by a low wind resistance, with Tesla claiming that its Semi has a drag-coefficient of 0.36Cd. It states that most of its competitors are closer to 0.65Cd. Tesla refrained from going into further detail about the lorry's drivetrain and battery, but did reveal that the vehicle features advanced autonomous technology to prevent jackknifing of the trailer.  Onboard sensors are installed to detect instability and can adjust torque sent to each wheel and independently actuate all brakes to prevent jackknifing. Additionally, surround cameras provide autonomous object detection and reduce blind spots, alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. The lorry also introduces a new Enhanced Autopilot system, with automatic emergency braking, automatic lane keeping, lane departure warning and even event recording. The Tesla Semi can travel in a convoy, allowing one or several Semis to autonomously follow a lead Semi. Alongside the claims for performance and safety, Musk also said that the Semi would provide users with massive savings. Figures produced by Tesla state that owners "can expect to save $200,000 or more in savings over a million miles based on fuel costs alone". Tesla is taking reservations for the Semi now for $5,000. Production is due to start in under two years, at which time Musk believes the company's "production bottlenecks" will be history. These production issues related to supply difficulties with the Model 3. They caused the reveal of the Semi to be delayed by several weeks. Tesla's resources have also been under demand helping to supply Puerto Rico with power following Hurricane Maria.  Read more about the Tesla Model 3's production bottlenecks here The bottlenecks have hindered Model 3 deliveries from Musk's initial delivery plan, set out in Tesla's second-quarter plan, with 220 Model 3s delivered in the third quarter compared with a targeted 1500. Tesla also has a Model Y small SUV, an electric cargo van, a minibus and a pick-up truck all slated for introduction in the coming years.   Read more:  Tesla: "Model 3 is not the next-generation Tesla" Tesla Model Y to lead ambitious range expansion plans 2017 Tesla Model S P100D review Tesla Model S 60 and 60D killed off due to low sales

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