Tesla's Electric Semi Truck
On November 12, Elon Musk confirmed that the official unveiling of Tesla's electric semi truck would take place on November 16 via a tweet that set a high bar for the vehicle: "This will blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension," wrote Musk. "Just need to find my portal gun."
Tesla has pushed back the reveal of the electric semi several times for various reasons.
Initially scheduled to take place in September 2017, it was pushed to October 26 and then again to the current date in November. Musk blamed production problems related to the Model 3 as well as Tesla's efforts to restore power in Puerto Rico when he issued a public statement in October.
With the reveal now less than 24 hours away, Tesla appears fully ready to show off the vehicle that could potentially change the face of the trucking industry as we know it.
Oncoming Vehicle
While no one knows for sure the official specs of Tesla's electric semi truck or any automakers that the company has already inked deals with — that information might be disclosed during the reveal — early reports have surfaced online.
According to a report from Reuters, the vehicle will boast a working range of between 321 and 482 kilometers (200 and 300 miles) from a single charge. A large-capacity battery would take a while to recharge, so Tesla might set up stations where drivers could either perform a flash charge of a smaller battery or take advantage of a battery-swapping system, trading a drained battery for one that's already ready to go.
Innovations like these could shake the foundation of the trucking industry, which will have to make some big changes over the next few years if it's to conform to inbound restrictions on vehicles powered by fossil fuels.
However, while Tesla's electric semi truck will be unveiled this week, it's not going to hit the road for some time. Tesla expects to start full-scale production on the vehicle in 2019, scaling up the manufacturing process over the next two years. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict the company will begin fulfilling orders in 2020.
The much-anticipated reveal on November 16 could prove to be a milestone in the proliferation of electric vehicles, and it'll be livestreamed for anyone keen on tuning in. The event will get underway at 8 p.m. PST, and based on Tesla's previous broadcasts, you'll likely be able to watch it via the company's website or their official YouTube channel.
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