Posted on 09/19/2023 6:00:29 AM PDT by Cronos
Pepsico explained how it uses its fleet of Tesla Semi electric trucks in a fascinating video that gives us a glimpse at the future of trucking.
Tesla has only delivered a limited number of its electric semitrucks, and most of them are believed to be in operation in Pepsico’s fleet – primarily in its Sacramento facility, which has been completely electrified and is solar-powered. .
Pepsico explained that it uses most of its 21 Tesla Semi electric trucks for deliveries within 100 miles with several stops. They operate for up to 12 hours a day.
Dejan Antunovic, electrification program manager at Pepsico, explained that three of the Tesla Semi trucks are dedicated to long-haul trucking, with routes that vary between 250 to 450 miles.
To support that, Tesla has been installing 750 kW Megachargers at Pepsico facilities. They enable charging to 80% capacity in less than 45 minutes. ...
Antunovic says that the company has been pushing the trucks to their limits, and they have been impressed. They find Tesla Semi’s regenerative braking to be particularly beneficial. As an example, he explained that, on the way down Donner Pass when going to Nevada, the Tesla Semi was able to be energy neutral by recuperating energy from braking.
The program manager noted that they have been able to achieve an efficiency of 1.7 kWh per mile on average with Tesla Semi. Pepsico specifically mentioned that this level of efficiency was achieved “over the last few months,” meaning that it has been improving.
That’s incredible, considering a rate of $0.14 per kWh, the off-peak rate in Sacramento – this would result in a 23% fuel cost reduction over the most efficient diesel trucks. You can imagine how those savings could add up pretty quickly on a large fleet of trucks.
(Excerpt) Read more at electrek.co ...
I’m sure Pepsico will get millions more customers now ,LOL
Looks forward and some truly spectacular fires, and to staggering insurance premiums.
Left a bit out, didn’t they...
“...$15.4 million state grant and $40,000 federal subsidy per vehicle helps offset part of the costs...”
And the inter-city routes with 450 miles? The success of that program will depend on how often, if ever, the truck runs to zero 100 miles away from home on the return trip.
And in general, how often the company needs to replace the entire facility because a unit burst into flames overnight.
Yeah, wait until winter, which is right around the corner. fossil fuels still run most electrical generation plants.
In the summer over flat terrain hauling 70,000lb cargo.
” If I need my vehicles running 24 hours a day or traveling greater distances, “
THAT is the niche market!!!
That’s a diesel truck. No exhaust system on an electric.
A good point, and well said.
I suspect there is some residual value in smaller cars and trucks, because there are many secondary or tertiary uses for them.
But large trucks have far fewer niche uses. (such as driving around the family farm, or as a short range occasional vehicle)
” They function more like computers than heavy equipment over the course of their life cycles. This means they become functionally obsolete long before they physically break down. The end result is that like computers and other home/office electronics, the owners will reach a point where they can’t even be given away even though they are still working fine.”
My 10 year old computer works fine! Thanks for pointing out this.
Not even sure they would work well for local use. It also sounds like they are trying to fast-charge the batteries. It’s my understanding that this is tough on a battery, any rechargeable battery.. Then there’s the extra weight factor. What does a battery pack for a semi weigh? Do they have to reduce the payload to make up for the battery? I’m sure there will be other questions as they arise.
So they are claiming they generate more electricity going down the Donner pass than they use on the entire trip? They must only be loaded on the trip to Nevada. Not very efficient coming back empty!
“It seems kind of ludicrous to make a statement like this. It’s easy to “zero out” your energy usage when you’re going downhill. If Fred Flintstone rolled his car down Donner Pass, he could make his way all the way to the bottom without expending a single calorie providing motive power to the car with his feet.”
Obviously you did not understand the statement! The actually GAIN energy going downhill compensating for the energy required to go uphill!
“That’s a diesel truck.”
Thanks, Sherlock.
Shhhhhhhh.
EV nuts don’t think about rising energy cost due to obsolete electricity infrastructure. The numbers don’t work.
Not to mention to mention government generated power outages.
This is all NWO bull sh!t.
I’m building a truck that runs on wood smoke and used oil.
"Once one of these Tesla trucks ignites,"
Your caption for the photo, not mine.
Mine's 13 years old.
Let's see who has the oldest functional computer, "I've got 13, 13 anyone for 14? Do I hear 14?" </auctioneer voice>
Here is another way of looking at EVs. You use gas,natural gas, diesel, coal to run a power plant that will produce enough electricity for many users. If you use common fuels for a vehicle you are converting that fuel directly to power the vehicle. If you have used the fuel to produce electricity(and you will) then you have gone through another process before that vehicle is able to do work. I contend that the more processes you go through, the more power is used up in the process.
You’ll be good to go when society breaks down to the Mad Max level. 👍
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