Tesla says volume production has begun for its electric Semi at a new Nevada factory. US diesel averaged $6.53 a gallon this week, about 74% above a year ago. Yahoo Finance calculates nearly $58,000 in fuel-cost savings versus diesel per 100,000 miles.
The comparison assumes a diesel truck gets 8 mpg, Tesla's stated Semi consumption is 1.7 kWh per mile, and commercial electricity costs $0.14/kWh. The $290,000 Long Range Semi is about $115,000 more than a diesel Freightliner Cascadia; demand charges can push power rates above $0.25/kWh, reducing the savings. The report also says EU diesel hit a mid-September record amid supply pressure from the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Tesla said the Nevada factory's opening marked the official start of volume production, although it had said in April that volume production had already been achieved. The plant is designed for up to 50,000 Semis a year, but Tesla gave no current output figure; Electrek estimates 5,000–15,000 deliveries this year. ZET SCALE named Tesla primary manufacturer for an order of 2,500 electric Class 8 trucks, with Kenworth, Volvo and RIDE as secondary suppliers. Musk said self-driving features were coming in the very near future.
