Electric trucks have always been on the periphery of innovation in the freight industry. While Google and Uber try to rush to the finish line in the attempt to roll out self-driving vehicles, Tesla trucks are focused on alternative energy engines that can still carry a heavy load. Later this month, Tesla will be unveiling its commercial freight vehicle, which could bring commercial trucks into the clean energy era.
What We Know So Far
Recently, Tesla motors unveiled the Model 3 sedan, trying to get interest from the general public for personal vehicles. However, Elon Musk has been dropping numerous hints that Tesla trucks will be revealed at the end of this month, in addition to what the company is calling a “high passenger density urban transport.” In plain English, the latter will probably be a bus.
The Price Of Tesla Trucks
While there has been no official word on the price of the upcoming Tesla trucks, analysts have done the best they can to give truckers and fleet owners a ballpark figure. Since Tesla trucks will probably not have the cost-ineffective 1,000 kWh batteries, but rather a smaller 300kWh battery, the price will be lower than expected. While the smaller batteries would reduce the range, Tesla motors will probably work around the problem by either allowing the batteries to be swapped, or charged at a very fast rate. Because of this, analysts have narrowed the price tag on Tesla trucks to roughly $100,000.
Tesla Trucks Are Not Going To Corner The Market
The push by Tesla Motors to put an electric truck into production is not a move to corner the market. According to the company, part of the strategy is to spur on the competition to release their own electric haulers to encourage an industry-wide switch to alternative energy vehicles. Tesla Motors also understands that proliferation of electric trucks will drive the cost down, making the vehicles more accessible to fleets and owner-operators.
Good Timing?
As Texas and other oil-producing areas in the gulf recover after the destruction left by Hurricane Harvey, gas prices are rising. The unveiling of an electric truck capable of doing the same job as regular petrol-powered commercial vehicles might not be a bad idea. What the trucking industry needs to decide is if the initial cash outlay for electric vehicles will be worth the return on investment, or if the petroleum industry will lock in lower prices to keep trucks moving on the road.
