How Pepsi’s Tesla Semis Will Transform Transportation

How Pepsi’s Tesla Semis Will Transform Transportation

Pepsi’s Tesla Semis

Beyond being a big accomplishment for the manufacturer, Tesla’s delivery of its first batch of Semis to its corporate client PepsiCo foreshadows significant developments in the haulage sector. The Tesla Semi might demonstrate to consumers and business clients that batteries can power heavy-cargo vehicles over long distances, which would be a significant change that would help cut down on emissions in the global supply chain.

According to Forbes, transportation is responsible for around a fifth of all global CO2 emissions, with container freight accounting for 29.4% of those emissions. The Tesla Semi might help alter the world’s supply chain in a sustainable way. The fact that Pepsi was the business’s first client is also noteworthy since it signifies the start of attempts to decarbonize the industry as many businesses seek to reduce their emissions.

In 2021, the US electrical grid generated 388g CO2/kWh, or 0.855 lb of CO2 per kWh. A typical Class 8 heavy-duty semi that travels under 4 mpg produces over 800g CO2 per km, but charging the Tesla Semi in the US at half a mile per kWh would result in 485g CO2 per km.

With time, electricity generation will get cleaner; some nations, like Uruguay, are already on the verge of having carbon-free electrical systems. Additionally, Tesla Semi owners may be more likely to charge their vehicles using renewable energy sources as European networks currently emit fewer emissions than those in the United States. The effects of zero-emission haulage will change along with the grid’s advancement.

According to the business, during test runs, the Tesla Semi was capable of transporting its maximum load of 81,000 lb (36.7 metric tonnes) of goods a distance of 500 miles. Given how heavy the vehicle is when fully loaded, the 1,000 kWh battery pack generates around half a mile https://haymakertavern.com/autopilot-tesla-expensive-software-update/of power per kWh, which testifies to the efficiency of the system.

The Tesla Semi also has a drag coefficient of 0.36 as opposed to the 0.70 average for comparable semi trucks. Tesla has long prioritised reducing drag coefficients in its vehicle designs, but given that the Semi’s drag coefficient is almost identical to a 2020 Porsche 911’s (0.36), it’s an impressive achievement for the manufacturer.

The Tesla Semi has innovative features designed to improve the lives of truckers in addition to assisting the transportation sector in its transition to higher efficiency and reduced emissions. It contains many sensors and cameras to help with reverse and low-speed movements, Autopilot, a comfortable and distinctive central driving position, and the traditional touchscreen that has been a standard in the brand’s vehicles.