UNIDENTIFIED DRIVING OBJECT SPOTTED

“I’ve just been passed on the infinity highway by something that looks like a u.f.o carrier” says an excited Mike over the phone at 23:43 local time.

The U.S. Air force at it again?

When you get a call like this from your friend who lives in silver springs Nevada, first thing that comes to mind is... Maybe the air force is testing out new technology in and around that area, then fantasy kicks in…

Wait a minute.... what if the aliens have actually landed in area 51 and are moving something crazy into American cities. Just like me, I’m sure you really want to know what Mike saw that night. Before we get into that, let me share some details of a conversation I had with a friend a while back.

Asphalt Dave

We got talking with my friend Dave, a hardworking middle aged family man who works as a long-haul truck driver. He has been in the industry for 10 years and wants to quit driving due to some issues he simply cannot fix.

He complained about having little to no home time, he talked about health issues plaguing him due to unhealthy working conditions. He also spoke about the roads being dangerous due to the unpredictable nature of the weather and huge pot holes. Not to mention the struggle just to get a decent and safe truck parking space when traveling, and of cause the almost permanent back pain he carries around from loading and unloading heavy cargo over the years.

Dave’s dream drive

He then goes “I wish I had a semi truck that’s twice as fast as my truck, consumes half the diesel mine consumes, had like a seat that helps my back pain, had a way to make loading and unloading cargo faster and an accurate in-built weather forecaster. With a truck like that I wouldn’t consider quitting.” We both laughed! Because a semi-truck like that was stuff of fantasies. I walked away sad. Sad because Dave loves his job, but to keep at it, he’d have to continuously fight demons, with impending dire consequences!?

The connection

So, after I got off the phone with Mike, what he described sounded a lot like something I had heard before. Yes, my conversation with Dave and his dream semi-truck! It sounded a whole lot like the dream semi-truck. So, I went digging for facts.

A Semi -Alien truck

After doing a bit of research, I came across a certain manufacturing company with a very large factory in Nevada that you could argue have been flirting with alien technology. You guessed right, that company is Tesla. ?

Tesla have been testing their new all electric semi-truck called SEMI in and around Nevada. It has been in development for a couple of years now. ?I’ve waited patiently for when these trucks will finally hit the roads and I’m excited to say my wait is almost over.

Elon Musk the C.E.O of Tesla recently announced that PepsiCo will be receiving the first batch of the Tesla Semis by December this year. If you’re not as excited as I am about this news, I suggest you take a look at some of the cool specifications of the Tesla Semi.

NASCAR or NAS-SEMI?

?Tesla Semi specs (August 2022):

?·???????Fully loaded at 82,000 lbs (37,195 kg) Gross Combination Weight

·???????Range: about 300 miles (483 km) or 500 miles (804 km)

·???????(Two battery options)

·???????Energy Consumption: less than 2 kWh/mile (1.24 kWh/km)

·???????Estimated battery capacity (range and energy consumption) 600kwh or 1000kwh

·???????Acceleration 0-60 mph (96.5 /km/h): 20 seconds (when fully loaded)

·???????Speed up a 5% Grade: Highway speed limit

·???????Powertrain: 3 independent motors on rear axles

·???????Fast Charging: up to 70% of range in 30 minutes

·???????Estimated average charging power in 70% SOC window (based on specs):

·???????600 kWh battery: 840 kW

·???????1,000 kWh battery: 1,400 kW (1.4 MW)

·???????Fuel Savings (est.): up to $200,000 over 3 years

·???????Semi autonomous driving, to aid in Lane changes, convoy mode and self parking

·???????Active safety features that pair with advanced motor and brake controls to deliver traction and stability in all conditions

·???????If the driver has a medical emergency and the truck cannot get a response from the driver, it will automatically call emergency services.

·???????Lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts.

·???????The semi can drive at 65mph at maximum gross load up a 5% gradient.

F.A.Q

All of these specifications seem really like stuff from an alien ship, but as impressive as they are, there are still some questions that need to be answered based on the history of electric cars;

1.?????Are the batteries at risk of overheating under intense use?

2.?????In cases of a breakdown, how easy and fast can the semi be fixed?

3.?????In cases of an electrical fire, what measures are in place to control it?

4.?????With the shortage of Tesla mega chargers, what alternative charging can be used for remote locations?

With other giants in the industry like Volvo and Mercedes set to release their own electric trucks, competition is going to be intense. Healthy competition brings improvements and here are 3 areas I feel the Tesla Semi can improve on to give it a huge edge over the competition.

Range

This is a truck of the future and I know improvements would be made, but imagine the semi had a range of 1,000 miles on a single charge, that would make diesel powered trucks obsolete.

Space

From the image of the semi’s cockpit, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of space, there’s only seating for one person. Because these drivers spend most of their time in the truck, there should be enough room to make them feel comfortable. Truck drivers enjoy good company, be it a pet lizard or human.

Automated cargo rollers and ramp

Since the semi is the future of trucking, why can’t it have automated rollers and a ramp to aid with the loading and unloading of cargo, something similar to the ones found on a cargo aeroplane. That would be a game changer.

Conclusion

The imminent rollout of electric trucks by Tesla, Volvo and Mercedes will completely revolutionise the trucking industry, which happens to be the beating heart of the world’s economy. If the trucks come as good as advertised, it will be a win not just for the trucking industry but also for the planet because of the issue of climate change.

Mike was right to be excited! But I think he saw a Tesla Semi being tested. Who knows, I might be wrong.

Do you think a Tesla Semi that answers all the questions raised and comes equipped with all the suggestions I have outlined is good enough to make the job of drivers like Asphalt Dave easier? Leave a comment or suggestion about other cool stuff you would love to see added to the Semi. Cheers!!!?