Connect with us

News

Tesla Semi dominates in real-world tests during Run on Less event

Image Credit: Erica Edwards/LinkedIn

Published

on

The Tesla Semi outperformed its rivals in real-world tests, demonstrating its advantages in range, charging efficiency, and performance by a significant margin. The results of the Tesla Semi placed a definitive period on the issue of whether battery electric trucks are feasible for the transport sector. 

During the Run on Less event, which was organized by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, a Tesla Semi operated by PepsiCo Inc. traveled 1,076 miles in a single day with three relatively brief 750-kW fast charging sessions. The charging sessions brought the Tesla Semi’s charge to roughly 47%, then 89%, and then 52%. 

More importantly, PepsiCo said 60% of the miles driven by the Tesla Semi over the 18 days were with a gross vehicle weight of more than 70,000 pounds. That’s pretty close to the 82,000-pound limit for Class 8 trucks like the Tesla Semi, and a typical weight for the logistics industry, as noted in an Automotive News report. 

The Tesla Semi also outperformed its peers at the Run on Less event for the average number of miles traveled per day. Amanda DeVoe, director of PepsiCo’s fleet transformation and strategy, noted that the company was quite happy with the Tesla Semi’s performance. 

“When we looked at the metrics during the run, we were very pleased with how the Semi performs. What was most meaningful is that the Semi aligned with how our business operates,” DeVoe said. 

Advertisement

John Boesel, CEO of Calstart, a clean transportation organization, praised Tesla Semi’s charging capabilities. “Tesla is the leader in terms of performance and range. They are also the only ones demonstrating superfast charge capability,” Boesel said. 

Overall, PepsiCo’s best-performing Tesla Semi traveled an average of 574 miles per day over the course of 18 days. The next best non-Tesla vehicle was WattEV’s Nikola Tre BEV, which traveled an average of 255 miles per day. OK Produce’s Freightliner eCascadia averaged 181 miles per day, and the Performance Team’s best-performing Volvo VNR Electric averaged 175 miles per day.

Tesla is still ramping up production of the Semi, but it is expected to play a major role in the transition to sustainability if the EV maker is able to ramp its production properly. California has already approved the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which will phase out internal combustion engine truck sales by 2036, so the opportunity is definitely there.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

Lifestyle

Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old

Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Owners Silicon Valley/X

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding. 

These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.

Tesla Semi’s Roar

There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.

Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.

Tesla Semi Ramp

Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.

Advertisement

The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.

Continue Reading

News

Robots like Tesla Optimus are a $5 trillion opportunity: analyst

This massive opportunity could be tapped by Tesla, thanks to its Optimus humanoid robot.

Published

on

tesla-optimus-pilot-production-line-fremont-factory
Credit: Tesla

Morgan Stanley analysts have estimated that the humanoid robot market could offer a $5 trillion opportunity by the middle of the century. This massive opportunity could be tapped by Tesla, thanks to its Optimus humanoid robot.

The analysts, however, noted that the humanoid robots will likely be mostly used in industrial and commercial deployments.

The Estimates

Estimates from Morgan Stanley analysts point to humanoid robots hitting $5 trillion in global revenue by 2050. This, the analysts noted, would be about double the total revenue of the 20 largest automakers in 2024. In 2050, Morgan Stanley analysts estimated that there might be about 1 billion humanoid robots deployed.

As noted in a report from Investing.com, the shift to humanoid robots would be gradual. By 2035, the analysts estimated that just about 13 million humanoid robots will be in use, most of which will be used in industrial and commercial settings. Even in 2050, when the analysts estimated that 1 billion humanoid robots will be in use, an estimated 90% might still be used in industrial and commercial settings.

The advent of humanoid robots will likely be felt in the labor sector, Morgan Stanley analysts noted. By 2030, the analysts noted that humanoid robots could replace about 40,000 jobs. Just ten years later, in 2040, the number of jobs that robots could take over could balloon to 8.4 million. By 2050, the analysts noted that 62.7 million humans may end up watching humanoid robots do their jobs.

Advertisement

Tesla Potential

Morgan Stanley noted that companies like Tesla, which control the “brains, bodies, branding and ecosystems” of the humanoid robots, would be able to offer the highest value. This is good news for Tesla’s Optimus program, as it is a product that is designed to be produced at an extreme scale. During the Q1 2025 All Hands meeting, Elon Musk reiterated the idea that Optimus could very well become the biggest product of all time.

Most importantly, Musk also stated that Tesla is internally aiming to acquire enough resources to produce 10,000 to 12,000 Optimus robots this year. But even if Tesla just manages half of this number, or about 5,000 Optimus robots this year, it would already be impressive.

“Even 5,000 robots, that’s the size of a Roman legion, FYI, which is like a little scary thought. Like a whole legion of robots, I’ll be like ‘whoa.’ But I think we will literally build a legion, at least one legion of robots this year, and then probably 10 legions next year. I think it’s kind of a cool unit, you know? Units of legion. So probably 50,000-ish next year,” Musk stated.

Continue Reading

News

SpaceX set to launch Axiom’s mission for diabetes research on the ISS

Axiom’s Ax-4 will test CGMs & insulin stability in microgravity—potentially reshaping diabetes care for Earth & future astronauts.

Published

on

(Credit: SpaceX)

Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Ax-4 will advance diabetes research in microgravity, marking a milestone for astronaut health.

Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission is scheduled to launch with SpaceX on May 29 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ax-4 mission will carry a diverse crew and a record-breaking scientific payload to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Ax-4 crew is led by Axiom’s Peggy Whitson and includes Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański from the European Space Agency, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The mission represents firsts for India, Hungary, and Poland, with Uznański being Poland’s first astronaut in over 40 years.

Ax-4 will conduct nearly 60 science investigations from 31 countries during its two-week ISS stay. A key focus is the “Suite Ride” initiative, a collaboration with Burjeel Holdings to study diabetes management in microgravity.

“The effort marks a significant milestone in the long-term goal of supporting future astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), a condition historically deemed disqualifying for spaceflight,” Axiom noted. The mission will test Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and insulin stability to assess their performance in space.

Advertisement

Axiom explained that testing the behavior of CGMs and insulin delivery technologies in microgravity and observing circadian rhythm disruption could help diabetes experts understand how CGMs and insulin pens can improve diabetes monitoring and care in remote or underserved areas on Earth. The research could benefit diabetes management in isolated regions like oil rigs or rural areas.

The mission’s findings on insulin exposure and CGM performance could pave the way for astronauts with diabetes to safely participate in spaceflight. As Axiom and SpaceX push boundaries, Ax-4’s diabetes research underscores the potential for space-based innovations to transform healthcare on Earth and beyond.

Continue Reading

Trending