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Tesla Semi shows strong results in ArcBest’s real-world freight trial

The truck handled varied terrain, including a 7,200-foot climb over Donner Pass.

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Credit: ArcBest/X

ArcBest has successfully wrapped up a three-week pilot program testing a Class 8 Tesla Semi in over-the-road applications. The trial was conducted through ArcBest’s ABF Freight division, and it covered routes between Reno and Sacramento and regional operations around the Bay Area.

Tesla Semi pilot sees strong performance and positive driver feedback

The Tesla Semi logged 4,494 miles during the pilot, averaging 321 miles per day with an energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile. The Tesla Semi handled varied terrain, including a 7,200-foot climb over Donner Pass, and delivered performance comparable to diesel counterparts. 

Drivers who participated in the pilot also gave positive feedback to the Tesla Semi, citing the Class 8 all-electric truck’s comfort, safety, and visibility thanks to features like a center seating position and intuitive controls. Matt Godfrey, president of ABF Freight, shared his thoughts on the pilot in a press release

“We’re not looking for a truck that performs well ‘for an EV.’ It must meet or exceed the performance and total cost of ownership targets of our most efficient diesel units. This pilot gives us great insight into the potential of EV semis in our operations,” he said. 

ArcBest highlights need for more charging infrastructure

While the pilot met expectations, ArcBest noted that broader deployment of Class 8 all-electric trucks like the Tesla Semi will still depend on improvements in charging infrastructure. This way, longer-haul operations become more than feasible.

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The pilot marks another step in ArcBest’s investment in sustainable logistics technologies. In addition to testing the Tesla Semi, the company operates a small fleet of EVs, including nine electric yard tractors, two electric forklifts, and two Class 6 electric straight trucks. Dennis Anderson, ArcBest chief innovation officer, noted that vehicles like the Tesla Semi are notable developments in the transportation sector.

“Freight transportation is a vital part of the global economy, and we know it also plays a significant role in overall greenhouse gas emissions. While the path to decarbonization presents complex challenges — such as infrastructure needs and alternative fuel development — it also opens the door to innovation. Vehicles like the Tesla Semi highlight the progress being made and expand the boundaries of what’s possible as we work toward a more sustainable future for freight,” he stated.

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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Elon Musk sets expectations for Tesla’s AI6 deal with Samsung

It is no secret that Musk’s leadership style is not for everyone.

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Image used with permission for Teslarati. (Credit: Tom Cross)

Elon Musk recently clarified a key detail about Tesla’s AI6 chip production deal with South Korean tech giant Samsung. As per Musk, Samsung’s leadership is aware that he would be personally involved in its upcoming factory’s operations.

Such a system, Musk noted, would allow Tesla and Samsung to achieve a real partnership.

Samsung’s AI6 production deal

When Elon Musk confirmed Tesla’s AI6 chip production deal with Samsung, there was one detail that stood out to longtime followers of the electric vehicle maker. As per the CEO, he would personally walk the lines of Samsung’s upcoming facility to ensure that the production of AI6 chips goes according to Tesla’s requirements.

“I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress. And the fab is conveniently located not far from my house,” Musk wrote in a post on X.

Musk’s comments caught a lot of attention, with some X users joking that Samsung has no idea what it signed up for. Musk, after all, is known to have extremely high demands for his employees during production ramps. He is also a leader who is extremely hands-on, as evidenced by his work during the Model 3’s production hell in the Fremont Factory.

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Musk issues an assurance

Musk’s leadership style is intense, but it is also known to produce admirable results. That being said, it is also no secret that Musk’s leadership style is not for everyone. Fortunately for Samsung, the Tesla CEO noted that he has set expectations with the South Korean tech giant’s leadership, so they know what to expect when the ramp-up of the AI6 chip’s production actually happens. 

“They do. I had a video call with the chairman and senior leadership of Samsung to go over what a real partnership would be like. Use the strengths of both companies to achieve a great outcome,” Musk wrote in a post

While Tesla is already very experienced with mass manufacturing, producing chips at scale is still a new venture for the company. It is a venture that will likely provide benefits for Tesla, however, with noted Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo stating that that partnership could shake up the chip industry’s power balance.

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Tesla is expanding Semi charging infrastructure once again

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is expanding its Semi charging infrastructure once again, this time to a facility owned by PepsiCo, near Denver, Colorado.

The Tesla Semi is the company’s all-electric Class 8 truck, and it’s been used by PepsiCo. and its subsidiary Frito-Lay, for a few years now, as part of a pilot program. They are two of several companies that have had exclusive access to the Semi for regional deliveries since 2022.

Tesla Semi Pepsico fleet ready to take on the road

These regional deliveries performed by PepsiCo. and others are taking the Tesla Semi from California to Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado. The need for a solid, reliable charging infrastructure is becoming more evident, especially as Tesla is planning to start mass production of the Semi in the coming months.

It will build these units near its Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, at a plant that it has been building since 2024.

That infrastructure is growing, as Tesla has submitted permitting to build a new six-stall Semi charging facility in Denver:

This is the location of a PepsiCo. distribution center near Denver. The Semi is evidently ready to start delivering to this location, but more charging is needed at the site to ensure the proper infrastructure is available.

PepsiCo. is putting forth a solid effort to increase its sustainability as a company. It has utilized the Tesla Semi for several years.

It has been a reliable partner for Tesla in the early testing of the vehicle, providing valuable data for the company, as it has handpicked the entities that have had access to the truck.

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

The expansion comes just after PepsiCo. filed to build 18 Tesla Semi chargers at another facility near Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Tesla sends cryptic message that Robotaxi expansion is imminent

Tesla looks to be imminently launching Robotaxi rides in California.

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tesla model x
A Tesla Motors Inc Model X is seen at Tesla's introduction of its new battery swapping program in Hawthorne, California June 20, 2013. Tesla Motors Inc on Thursday unveiled a system to swap battery packs in its electric cars in about 90 seconds, a service Chief Executive Elon Musk said will help overcome fears about their driving range. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS LOGO) - RTX10VSH

Tesla has sent a cryptic message that the expansion of its Robotaxi platform is imminent in an area that the company indicated is a target of the ride-hailing service.

Tesla Robotaxi is currently available in Austin, Texas, but the company has stated for some time that its intention is to expand to California, among other states.

Now, it seems that Tesla is closer than ever to launching Robotaxi in California, based on a new message it sent to users of its Robotaxi app.

We received the message over the weekend, and it required us to accept and agree to new terms. Here’s what it said:

“If your ride is taking place outside of California, it is being conducted autonomously…If your ride is taking place in California, it is being conducted with a safety driver using FSD (Supervised) pursuant to authority from the California Public Utilities Commission.”

The message basically states that Tesla’s Robotaxi rides in Austin will differ from the ones that take place in California in a big way.

In Texas, there is nobody in the driver’s seat. There is a Safety Monitor in the passenger’s seat who simply ensures that everything goes smoothly:

Watch the first true Tesla Robotaxi intervention by safety monitor

In California, there will be a monitor in the driver’s seat, so it will essentially be the same as taking a ride in a vehicle with Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

This will, without a doubt, be a vocal point of the skeptics of the Robotaxi program, but for now, it is proof of Tesla’s “paranoid” focus on safety.

There has not been any established geofence in California within the Robotaxi app, so the program is not yet active in the state. However, it seems the release of the Robotaxi platform in the Golden State is imminent.

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