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Another Tesla Semi with new design and unique rear setup spotted in the wild

Credit: Tesla Owners NorCal-Reno/Twitter

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It appears that Tesla has produced another unit of its updated Tesla Semi, with one of the Class 8 trucks recently being spotted in Tahoe, seemingly on its way back to the Bay Area. Like the previous sightings of the updated vehicle, the Semi featured some interesting characteristics, including some unique equipment at its rear that was not present in the other two updated Semis spotted recently. 

Late last year, rumors emerged stating that the EV maker is looking to produce four new Tesla Semi units, with two reportedly being used for road testing, one being used for cold-weather testing, and another being used for durability testing. Sure enough, early this month, a white Tesla Semi with updated windows, door handles, and tail lights was sighted in Sacramento. The vehicle looked refined, and it appeared that it was about ready to enter production.

Credit: Tesla Owners NorCal-Reno/Twitter

A second, road-weary Semi with updated features was soon sighted in Chicago, IL. While the vehicle was the same color as the Semi in the Sacramento sighting, and while both trucks were equipped with silver wheels, the equipment on their rear and the type of tires they had was different. The Semi spotted in Sacramento featured a rather large, mysterious box connected to several data cables as well, while the vehicle in Chicago featured no such equipment. For its part, the Semi spotted in Tahoe also had some unique characteristics. 

Immediately noticeable from the Tesla Semi in Tahoe was the vehicle’s wheels, which were painted back. The vehicle’s rear also featured a completely different setup than the first two, with a hefty box fitted on one side of the truck. Overall, the Semi seemed like it was freshly built, fueling speculations among the electric vehicle community that the truck was the third of the four new prototypes hinted at by reports in late 2020. 

https://twitter.com/teslanorcalreno/status/1361058949881995264?s=20

 

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Recent reports have pointed to the idea of the Tesla Semi entering limited production this year, with anonymous sources familiar with the electric car maker’s plans suggesting that the company plans to start building release candidates around May 2021. Pilot production of the vehicle is also rumored to begin around July 2021. By the end of the year, Tesla is reportedly looking to produce about 100 Semis per week, allowing the EV maker to end the year with a total of 2,500 units built. 

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

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.

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Waymo faces federal probe after self-driving taxi fails to stop for school bus

In a statement, a Waymo representative stated that the company has “already developed and implemented improvements” that should help its fleet avoid similar incidents in the future.

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Credit: Waymo

Federal regulators have launched an investigation into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles after reports that one of its autonomous taxis failed to stop properly for a school bus. 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that it’s reviewing around 2,000 Waymo vehicles following concerns that its autonomous systems may have violated traffic laws.

Waymo under review

According to a Reuters report, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation began the probe after flagging a media report involving a Waymo self-driving taxi that did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus. At the time of the incident, the school bus had its red lights flashing, its stop arm was deployed, and its crossing control arm was extended.

As per the ODI’s report, the Waymo initially stopped beside the bus before maneuvering around its front. This resulted in the vehicle passing the school bus’ extended stop arm and crossing control arm. Students from the bus were disembarking when the Waymo committed the error. The vehicle was operating without a safety driver at the time, and it was equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS).

Software fix already in place

In a statement, a Waymo representative stated that the company has “already developed and implemented improvements related to stopping for school buses and will land additional software updates in our next software release.” The spokesperson also highlighted that Waymo prioritizes the safety of pedestrians, especially children, in its vehicles’ operations. 

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“Driving safely around children has always been one of Waymo’s highest priorities. In the event referenced, the vehicle approached the school bus from an angle where the flashing lights and stop sign were not visible and drove slowly around the front of the bus before driving past it, keeping a safe distance from children,” Waymo noted.

Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet, operates a fleet of more than 1,500 robotaxis in major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. The company continues to expand its footprint and plans future operations in Tokyo and London.

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Kia and Tesla top list in Swedish study of strongest EV batteries

A major Swedish study has revealed which electric vehicles hold their battery health the best, and Kia and Tesla came out on top. 

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

A major Swedish study has revealed which electric vehicles hold their battery health the best, and Kia and Tesla came out on top. 

Swedish car broker Kvdbil initiated a test of more than 1,300 used BEVs and plug-in hybrids to determine which models retain the best battery capacity over time. Based on the study’s results, the Kia EV6, Kia e-Niro, and the Tesla Model Y were deemed the best.

Kia and Tesla lead the pack

Kvdbil’s test results are bullish for electric vehicles as a whole. The study showed that eight out of ten used electric cars still had at least 90% of their original battery capacity. Kia’s EV6 and e-Niro finished first and second in the rankings, while Tesla’s Model Y came in third. As per CarInfo data, Sweden currently has 12,148 Kia EV6 registered, while there are 48,488 Model Y.

In a comment to the media, test manager Martin Reinholdsson stated, “They are actually better than we thought. We were a bit surprised that there were so many that were this good.”

In a way, Tesla’s strong performance in the test carries extra weight since the Model Y is one of Sweden’s best-selling EVs, giving the test a much larger sample size compared to Kia’s smaller but highly rated fleet. 

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Battery tech, driver habits, and age all play a role

Kvdbil noted that the test’s standout results could be attributed to advanced battery management systems and careful engineering, as noted in a report from the Sweden Herald. At the same time, the study also found that factors like charging routines, driving style, and the age of a vehicle can influence capacity retention.

Rounding out the top ten were entries from Opel, Mazda, Audi, Fiat, Volvo, Citroën, and Volkswagen, as noted in a CarUp report.

This is not the first time that Tesla’s battery prowess has shown its strength. Last year, reports emerged stating that a Tesla Model S 90D from Chesterfield, UK, had traveled 430,000 miles on its original motors and batteries. Over that period, which was comprised of constant Supercharging sessions due to the car being used as an airport taxi, the Model S 90D only lost 65 miles of range.

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Tesla just made Service even easier and more convenient

The new feature is rolling out to iOS users now; we have not heard any confirmation from Android phone users whether they are receiving it too.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla just made servicing your vehicle even easier and more convenient than it already is.

All it did was add a new section to its smartphone app.

Tesla has officially launched a new Maintenance tab that estimates the repair date and cost, and uses vehicle data to determine if any part is in need of replacement.

It can be found by accessing the app, going to Service, then hitting Request Service, and then Maintenance.

The new feature is rolling out to iOS users now; we have not heard any confirmation from Android phone users whether they are receiving it too. Since it is not a vehicle capability, we do not believe Tesla will delay the release of the feature to Android phones.

Teslas are already well known for having extremely low maintenance needs, and semi-annual check ups usually only require a tire rotation and some additional windshield washer fluid. There is not a need for things like oil changes or other things that are routinely needed on combustion engine cars due to the lack of parts.

Additionally, the small addition to the company’s smartphone app will help facilitate needs for Service, and could help relieve some congestion, while also streamlining the repair process for technicians.

Tesla to make app change for easier communication following Service

One of the biggest complaints about owning a Tesla is Service wait times, as availability can be extremely limited in some areas. However, Tesla has done a lot to work on increasing the number of Service centers it has, while also working hard to streamline service and make it less time-consuming.

Tesla has aimed to have an F1-style service experience, but it has not worked out that way. With that being said, there are significantly fewer complaints with Tesla’s Service division than in years past. With the presence of Mobile Technicians and more refined Service processes, things are definitely improving.

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