Volvo to build electric semi trucks

[ATFink]

6 hours ago, gnomik said:

Is there an actual spec sheet for the tesla semi? I cant find the battery capacity or motor power anywhere.Maybe tesla just bullshitting about its range

The Tesla Semi will come in two options: a 500 mile rig and a 300 mile rig.

The range rating assumes a full 80,000 lbs tractor + trailer.

 

The power train for the semi starts with an ENORMOUS battery (estimated at ~ 1 MWh) through an inverter (no specs) to 4 motors (one for each rear wheel). Each motor in the Tesla semi is the same motor as the one in the Model 3. The middle wheels will have a 15:1 reduction unit IIRC (the transmission... which is only one speed) and the rear wheels will have a 22:1 reduction unit IIRC.

 

The signature edition is $200,000, the 500 mile rig is $180,000, and I don't know the the price of the 300 mile rig but I think it is $150,000.

I don't know the difference between the signature edition or the 500 mile rig.

 

Apparently some industry representatives that have more up close and personal experience with the vehicle say the specs are for real:

https://electrek.co/2017/12/18/tesla-semi-test-program-partner-performance-specs-real/

[Bigbootyjudy]

Hopefully, we will see electric semis dominating the roads. I'm tired of hearing them and seeing pitch black exhaust get shot out of the exhaust pipe every single time they accelerate. Plus they stink. This also is starting to feel like the future where everything is electric and we get rid of the burning of fossil fuels for more sustainable energy. Of course, it will take a SUPER long time before everything gets converted to electric and also we get rid of burning fossil fuels.

[AresKrieger]

1 hour ago, The Viking said:

Derogations on weights are also allowed for vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

Well that part might in part negate the weight restrictions slightly, doesn't affect the size limits though it isn't that surprising they have limits that are tighter than the US roads designed for horses and peasants are not particularly large.

 

However this Volvo is more or less useless in a US context, though if it is merely going across an EU state it would serve its purpose as it doesn't need to go as far in most cases.

 

Though we don't know the full details on the 300 mile rig to say for certain that one isn't small enough to be a valid option, the 500 is certainly out of the question though.

[Misanthrope]

The range per charge is important but it's even more important to discuss at what kind of load they can pull off that range. If it's 300km towing the full capacity which is usually under 40 metric tons but I seriously doubt they can maintain that distance claim on such loads. I could be way off but this detail is actually important.

[Blackie Sheen]

1 hour ago, TheMcSame said:

Neither are suited to much more than yard shunter work and local deliveries anyway. 

 

Let's not forget the rather large price tag on the Tesla Semi as well... Haulage companies will shell the money out for the bare minimum of what's needed. The Tesla isn't even going to be a question for most companies, the Volvo may well be much more affordable, as far as trucks go anyway, and thus a much more realistic option for haulage companies. 

 

Energy efficient to an extent. Though like every other hybrid on the market, in the real world they can't match the efficiency of a diesel engine.

"But diesel fumes and NOX emissions" 

Two words; Shipping - Industry. If you care so much about NOX and sulphur, you should be on their case since shipping fuel is far more dirtier than road diesel.

The efficiency of a vehicle is not only defined by the type of motorisation it uses. Yeah diesel might be more efficient but in the end, something with terrible drag coefficient like traditionally shaped semi trucks, like the one Volvo will produce can never be efficient particularly at high speed where the impact of their bad drag coefficient is truly felt.

 

Though from the mileage the Volvo electric semi can travel without stop, they wouldnt go much further than the local deliveries or the next town so they might not even need to go on highways where they would reach a speed where it really matters.

 

Traditional trucks have typically a drag coefficient of about 0.7 to 0.8 which is really bad where as the Tesla truck has 0.36 which means their is a lot less energy lost trying to fight wind. Sure, the Tesla semi is expensive but transport companies would probably save a lot of money tied to fuel since, depending on the  location, electricity is really cheap. With increasingly better and cheaper battery technology, we could see these trucks starting able to do very long distances where even their higher initial price might be recuperated over the truck's lifespan through lower usage cost. Anyway, we also dont know about Volvo's truck's pricing although it will surely be much lower than the Tesla equivalent.

 

Also, I never mentionned anything about fumes and NOX emissions. I just think going electric or hybrid, is a good move in general and should be pursued more and more in favor of lower consumption of fossil fuels

 

 However, thats only my little thought about the topic so take it with a grain of salt.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

4 hours ago, Blackie Sheen said:

Well the prius, as much as the look of it is hated, it is extremely practical. It has one of the lowest drag coefficient ever to ever have on a car with a C_d of 0.24 which allows it to in the end be very energy efficient

I wouldn't say it's practical solely from the slopping roof line. 

[VanayadGaming]

Now that is one ugly truck. At least tesla's is looking smexy

[TheMcSame]

8 hours ago, Blackie Sheen said:

The efficiency of a vehicle is not only defined by the type of motorisation it uses. Yeah diesel might be more efficient but in the end, something with terrible drag coefficient like traditionally shaped semi trucks, like the one Volvo will produce can never be efficient particularly at high speed where the impact of their bad drag coefficient is truly felt.

When I mentioned diesel, it was in the context of cars, since you mentioned the Prius. I'm certainly not disputing a giant block creates a hell of a lot of drag. However, cabovers are very popular in Europe for a reason, the cab eats into the total legal length of the vehicle. That hood might make it more efficient, but it eats into the total length of the vehicle, though it's short wheelbase may well help with that

8 hours ago, Blackie Sheen said:

Though from the mileage the Volvo electric semi can travel without stop, they wouldnt go much further than the local deliveries or the next town so they might not even need to go on highways where they would reach a speed where it really matters.

The problem here is that you're assuming they compete in the same market. Driving over to the next town in NA is a lot different than driving over to the next town in Europe considering Europe's population is far more dense. 

 

The Tesla might have better range, but it's still nothing spectacular that'd put it above local multi drops or perhaps a short cross-border delivery. 

 

8 hours ago, Blackie Sheen said:

Traditional trucks have typically a drag coefficient of about 0.7 to 0.8 which is really bad where as the Tesla truck has 0.36 which means their is a lot less energy lost trying to fight wind. Sure, the Tesla semi is expensive but transport companies would probably save a lot of money tied to fuel since,

 

You're expecting companies to do the logical thing and spend money to save money. Companies don't like logic, or spending money to save money, that's why they tend to buy the lowest spec truck they can get away with.

8 hours ago, Blackie Sheen said:

 

Also, I never mentionned anything about fumes and NOX emissions. I just think going electric or hybrid, is a good move in general and should be pursued more and more in favor of lower consumption of fossil fuels

It was more of a preemptive thing, since the whole VW scandal, the mere mention of diesel over anything is enough to trigger people.

[Monkey Dust]

Inner city use is where electric vehicles are most needed and make most sense, and where this Volvo is designed for. Volvo are pitching their truck at a very different market to Tesla, so comparisons aren't very valid.

[Brehohn]

This Volvo already can’t compete. The Tesla gets, what, 600 miles on a single charge? Volvo is probably scared that they are going to lose a lot of profit off of their transportation vehicles.

[Mihle]

12 hours ago, Brehohn said:

This Volvo already can’t compete. The Tesla gets, what, 600 miles on a single charge? Volvo is probably scared that they are going to lose a lot of profit off of their transportation vehicles.

Tesla is aimed at the US market. Volvo is aimed at the European market. It's two different markets. Tesla is too big for Europe, Volvo is too small for US.

[Nicnac]

I just want one of these