Tesla’s newest electric vehicle could jolt the trucking industry

I have read this article in NY Times about Tesla 18-wheel trucks that are electric.

After years of delays, Tesla has begun taking orders for the Semi, which is expected to cost around $290,000 for the version that can travel up to 500 miles on a charge, much less expensive than heavy-duty electric trucks sold by Daimler, Volvo and other companies, which usually sell for at least $400,000, according to estimates by the International Council on Clean Transportation. Tesla has said the Semi will also have a more affordable model that can travel 350 miles between charges. Both options would travel farther than trucks from other suppliers.

Demand for the Semi appears strong. California trucking firms have asked the state government for subsidies to help them buy more than 1,200 Tesla trucks. That’s more than all the applications for other electric trucks since the state’s incentive program began in 2019.

Because the truck is electric, it is better for the environment.

If Tesla can push the trucking industry toward battery power, the environmental implications could be significant. Heavy- and medium-duty diesel trucks make up a small percentage of all U.S. vehicles but are responsible for 45 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions from road transportation, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Nitrogen oxides cause asthma and bronchitis and are the main component of smog.

Also, it is better for the driver.

Mr. Torres said the Semi was quieter than diesel rigs. And he can run the air-conditioning while waiting to drop off a load. That is sometimes not possible with diesel trucks because California limits how long those vehicles can idle in residential areas or near schools and hospitals to minimize pollution.

I hope that Tesla will sell many electric trucks so that all the diesel trucks are replaced. I do not like the diesel trucks because they are polluting and the exhaust is unpleasant to breathe.