Tesla's 'Badass' Electric Semi Beats Diesel and Rail, Says Elon Musk

Tesla introduces a high-performance, totally electric, semi-autonomous truck that that can haul 80,000 of freight for 500 miles without recharging.

2 minute read

November 20, 2017, 8:00 AM PST

By Katharine Jose


Goods Movement

Miune / Shutterstock

In April 2016, Planetizen's Casey Brazeal commented on the unexpected success of Tesla’s electric cars and wrote, "[n]ow it's time for someone to follow Tesla's lead and bring electrification to the trucking industry.”

The time, it seems, is now, and the “someone” following Tesla’s example is Tesla.

In a presentation last Thursday, as reported by Umair Irfan:

"Emphasizing the truck’s ‘badass performance,' Tesla CEO Elon Musk pitched the new Tesla Semi as the safest, most comfortable truck ever.”

The Tesla truck is completely electric, can haul the same amount of freight as a semi running on diesel, is semi-autonomous, and for some reason has “nuclear explosion proof glass.”

Greening the trucking industry has been a theme in transportation planning for some time, but so has moving freight by rail. Because it is less expensive, less polluting, and creates fewer negative externalities to be dealt with by public money freight rail has seen a resurgence in the last decade. with a number of states investing in the industry,

But trucking is, not by accident, deeply ingrained in the American economy, and Musk believes his truck is better than both traditional trucking and rail:

“'It's not just economic suicide to use one diesel truck, it's economic suicide for rail,' Musk said. 'This beats rail.'”

The problem with Musk’s statement, some planners may want to point out, is traffic. Electric trucks may reduce pollution, but they won’t necessarily address congestion or safety concerns associated with big trucks.

Considering the massive increase in freight expected in the next 30 years, there may be room for both a rail boom and Tesla's trucks, but it’s worth noting there’s one thing Musk didn’t cover:

"Though Tesla says the payback period in averted fuel costs on the truck would be just two years, it did not reveal a retail price," writes Irfan.

Production of the electric semi begins in 2019.

Friday, November 17, 2017 in Vox

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.