Recent rules could allow every Semi in the USA to move up from 80k lb limit to 88k if they are carrying agricultural goods. That could bring a movement to increase the weight limits to 88k nationwide. Something we follow in forestry as that counts as an ag commodity. I suspect this would slightly decrease the business case for Semi.
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Semi General Discussion
- Thread starter Buckminster
- Start date
Musskiah
DisGruntled
These SR Semis it seems were built at the low volume pilot building. If you check Zaneglar YouTube channel he does drone flyovers of the high-volume Semi Factory. He refers to 2 "warehouse on wheels" AKA WOW. The new Semi Factory WILL NOT complete the $3.6B project at the Sparks Gigafactory, but instead a new building at the edge of the property is being erected. He talks about it here:
The latest video by Zaneglar shows they are making progress with culvert and utility pipes now. Lots of heavy equipment lined up now like watertrucks and excavators. About halfway through this video he brings up footage from 4 weeks ago for comparison:
His channel has a lot of short-ish videos where he drives by the low-volume existing factory to hand build Semis and fly-overs of the new Semi site. His narration is super informative - highly recommend!
Zangler is out with a very informative video on the Semi.
His main point is that unlike the other cars the Semi is dependent on external suppliers. And they are not much interested in small numbers like the Semi has needed until now. So Tesla got to ramp it up to get decent supplies.
Another point is that the Semi only need a short assembly line with about 5 stations. And he belive the current prototype building have room for 4-5 lines. Where Tesla can start a modest production while waiting for the main new building to get operational.
Apart from that - many pretty pics from inside the Semi factory - well worth a look:
His main point is that unlike the other cars the Semi is dependent on external suppliers. And they are not much interested in small numbers like the Semi has needed until now. So Tesla got to ramp it up to get decent supplies.
Another point is that the Semi only need a short assembly line with about 5 stations. And he belive the current prototype building have room for 4-5 lines. Where Tesla can start a modest production while waiting for the main new building to get operational.
Apart from that - many pretty pics from inside the Semi factory - well worth a look:
This, sadly, is completely off base.
Newsom has proposed issuing temporary permits as there are huge backups at the LS Port with ships just waiting offshore. It actually doesn't work for several reasons including the weights the trucks are meant to haul as well as how the containers themselves are loaded.
There simply isn't enough trucking to haul the goods coming in to the USA and now CARB is just starting to limit the trucks allowed in to the state generally and the port specifically.
The EV Semi rules will make this much, much, much worse in the near term as they haul less while costing much more to acquire and operate.
California 88K lb. load limit dubbed 'lipstick on a pig'
Increasing the truck's max weight by 4 tons unlikely to clear out massive stacks of shipping containers. Read on for details.
www.ccjdigital.com
I don't see how this is off base at all? For us, shipping logs and wood products, this is a huge move. We've been able to do 88k but only on local roads, not interstates. This will change economics by quite a bit for folks in forestry that work close to interstate highways.This, sadly, is completely off base.
Newsom has proposed issuing temporary permits as there are huge backups at the LS Port with ships just waiting offshore. It actually doesn't work for several reasons including the weights the trucks are meant to haul as well as how the containers themselves are loaded.
There simply isn't enough trucking to haul the goods coming in to the USA and now CARB is just starting to limit the trucks allowed in to the state generally and the port specifically.
The EV Semi rules will make this much, much, much worse in the near term as they haul less while costing much more to acquire and operate.
California 88K lb. load limit dubbed 'lipstick on a pig'
Increasing the truck's max weight by 4 tons unlikely to clear out massive stacks of shipping containers. Read on for details.
Musskiah
DisGruntled
Zanegler confirms Semi is in production at low volume factory! He estimates likely output is 500-1000 (annually?)
I'm in trucking as well and would love to be able to haul 88K legally.
However, all that is happening is that due to freight backups at the LA Port, Newson is trying to increase the legal limit to 88K temporarily while leaving the port. Which won't work anyways as all the containers are packed in a way that keeps them exactly legal to 80K#s. That's it.
This will have no effect at all on you shipping logs, unless those logs are coming out of the LA Port.
Because of the incredibly stupid EV trucking laws that have been enacted in CA, freight backups much worse and more expensive than this are going to become common. Nearly all Asian goods into this country come into that port. The port should be Federalized and the Interstates leaving it are already Federal for the good of the country and then CA can do whatever stupid things they desire and the people vote for. But now it's effecting the entire rest of the country.
This is happening nationwide, huge movements. In Mississippi, in VA etc. Now a national bill to increase things, so far it is Ag related, very hard to find seasonal help to truck corn wheat beans etc. Also logs.
Keep in mind the whole hard to get suppliers to care about low production volumes applies to everyone in heavy duty, even for the ICE vehicles volumes are so small next to passenger vehicles you are always on the backburner. This is even more so the case with the electric vehicles as production volumes are pretty small.
Just a reminder Tesla has the same issues as everyone else with this as its sometimes forgotten they are just another vehicle company. Even for the cars they buy components from suppliers, just like all the other OEMs. They may just pay for bespoke designs versus leveraging whats on the shelf.
For the small number of build stations its called a stall build and is commonly done with more custom builds that don’t work on the line or early engineering/quality builds.
Cool video, just making sure people are aware these issues are no different than everyone elses
Musskiah
DisGruntled
Tesla Semi shorter range truck talk starting around 16min. Some interesting points about the potential sub 200mile range market, including how competition stacks up.
SmartElectric
Active Member
Battery production capacity is massively increasing, yet Ford / GM / VW are slow walking electrification.
I sense Tesla Semi program will benefit from this situation, especially in a world where California mandates emissions for large trucking.
Semi has been stalled compared to other Tesla programs for battery capacity.
Powerwall has started to ramp back up too ...
I sense Tesla Semi program will benefit from this situation, especially in a world where California mandates emissions for large trucking.
Semi has been stalled compared to other Tesla programs for battery capacity.
Powerwall has started to ramp back up too ...
Musskiah
DisGruntled
More@
Tesla Semi Megacharger route still plausible despite Biden admin rejection: report
As per a former Tesla VP, the EV maker may pivot to state funding or even use its own resources to build a Tesla Semi Megacharger route.
www.google.com
Would these charging Stations include Food and Showers? Will these Truck Stops have large areas to park several Trucks so when drivers are up on their time they can just park? Something like the large Truck Stops like Loves and T A of America. Will it offer services like Tire replacements? How many Rigs could be charged at one time? Would people with Electric Pickups towing Trailers be able to use the sites? A bit smaller version of this
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I think the numbers are so low its Tesla/PepsiCo/Martin Bower are most likely the only customers. If anyone else was using them too Im sure it would be in the news, however, I clearly have no idea how many have been sold and to who.
IMO this is the typical Tesla game where they claim to do big things, but they do not provide details as there is none to provide.
Keep in mind there aren’t any trucks suitable for long haul applications yet so adding the amenities is probably not a big concern. Makes sense to plan ahead for when that day comes if it does.Would these charging Stations include Food and Showers? Will these Truck Stops have large areas to park several Trucks so when drivers are up on their time they can just park? Something like the large Truck Stops like Loves and T A of America. Will it offer services like Tire replacements? How many Rigs could be charged at one time? Would people with Electric Pickups towing Trailers be able to use the sites? A bit smaller version of this
If you have not looked into the energy requirements for these types of facilities to support heavy duty EVs its pretty eye watering! Not sure its even possible to have them with current infrastructure.
My guess is that they might try to partner with existing truck stops, to just install charging stations at existing truck stop locations as much as possible. We really won't have any more details until things actually start happening.Would these charging Stations include Food and Showers? Will these Truck Stops have large areas to park several Trucks so when drivers are up on their time they can just park? Something like the large Truck Stops like Loves and T A of America. Will it offer services like Tire replacements? How many Rigs could be charged at one time? Would people with Electric Pickups towing Trailers be able to use the sites? A bit smaller version of this
Watts_Up
Well-Known Member
Also the Tesla Semi don't have (yet) a cabin with a sleeping area, so maybe Tesla would provide
some kind of Uber ride to a motel and restaurant when charging the batteries and taking a required rest.
While some local Tesla technicians would take care of the charging and machanic work, like replacing tires.
It is not impossible to have Tesla drivers making some trip rotations, like driving four hours in one direction
and then driving back and spending the night at their home, something that UPS drivers do.
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