Tesla Semi mass production has officially begun.
Long Range
• Range: ~500 miles
• 4680 cells
• Fully electric steering assist (vs hydraulic before)
• Uses beefed up Cybertruck actuators
• 48 volt architecture
• Powertrain: 3 independent motors on rear axles
• Drive Power: Up to 800 kW
• Curb Weight: 23,000 lbs
• Energy Consumption: 1.7 kWh per mile
• Fast Charging: Up to 60% of range in 30 mins
• Charge Type: MCS 3.2
• ePTO (Electric Power Take Off): Up to 25 kW
$290,000 before destination charges.
Short Range / Standard Range Tesla Semi
Range: ~325 miles (at full 82,000 lbs GCW)
Curb weight: less than 20,000 lbs (lighter battery pack, shorter wheelbase for better maneuverability)
Energy consumption: 1.7 kWh per mile
Powertrain: 3 independent motors on rear axles
Drive power: Up to 800 kW
Fast charging: Up to 60% of range in 30 minutes (MCS 3.2 charger. Oeak ~1.2 MW capable)
ePTO (Electric Power Take-Off): Up to 25 kW
Other notes: Uses 4680 cells (designed for 1 million-mile drivetrain life), 48V architecture, fully electric steering assist.
Price: Approximately $250,000–$260,000 (pre-destination fees/taxes; based on customer quotes reported in early 2026).
Diesel Freightliner Cascadia
Price for New 2026 models typically $155k–$208k.
Efficiency is ~9 mpg is a solid real-world average for modern newer Cascadia (varies 7–10+ mpg depending on load/route).
Payload/GCW is comparable 82k GCW capability with lower curb weight than most EVs.
Current Diesel Fuel Costs (April 2026)
60-80 cents per mile for fuel (9 mpg) versus 14-34 cents per mile for Tesla Semi Electric.
1.7 kWh at Wholesale electricity 8-20 cents in the USA per kwh. At superchargers, 40 cents per kWh for 68 cents per kWh. Expensive top-up to get back to the charging depot. Pepsi and other clients are going from their warehouses with charging and returning to the same location.
United States National on-highway diesel average is ~$5.35–$5.60 per gallon. There have been spikes from iran war and Hormuz events. Retail pumps vary by region $4.20–$5.75. Fleets often pay slightly less via bulk contracts.
Europe (EU average)
€1.94–2.02 per liter (~$8.00–$8.40 per gallon equivalent, depending on exchange rate). Prices are significantly higher due to taxes (varies by country: e.g., Netherlands ~€2.46/L, cheaper in Eastern Europe).
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[ electrical (fast charging) “68 cents per mile?”
What are maintenance costs each?
Or (full cargo, summer/winter, typical U.S. mid elevation change) ‘uphill’ (only) range for EV (with, new cargo?, then easily downhill back, worth a full charge for the batteries ~USD33-255, ~75% recuperation efficiency, full range 325/500mi)?
What’s the value of a delivery that ranges (depending on number of customers)? (thx) ]
[ with warranty for 8yrs for battery replacement the revenue advantage of about USD200-400k, can be reduced by ~USD100-250k (~70-80% capacity, local 2nd use renewables backup for fast chargers? Raw resale roughly ~USD10-20k, backup system upgrade sale ~USD50-100k) for battery upcycling, with about another ‘~900 – 1,800 kWh per original 1 kWh capacity’, for Tesla chemistry batteries, then at ~50-60% SOH)? (thx) ]
[ … being/getting a ‘free fast charger’ for the ‘driver-renewables/charger-owner’ or pays a (maybe 2x, with lower battery costs) free battery replacement with offering fast charging at ~USD0.30-0.35? (thx) ]
[ correction: best downhill trucking routes, all payload, would recover ~20-45% of battery capacity, worth charge cost of ~USD6-115 for that route(?) (thx) ]
I’m more concerned with how the trucks are being controlled and less about their energy source. Would you want to share the road with a driverless 18-wheeler currently being beta-tested?
Don’t get me wrong. I love what Elon has done with SpaceX and I don’t have a problem with solar power, even if many of the solar power proponents literally want to ban their competitors. But the fleets of driverless trucks?!? No. Let the AI be a co-pilot and nothing more.
These are ELECTRIC trucks, not AUTOMOMOUS trucks.
Eventually they will go autonomous on 18 wheelers, but that likely a couple years away.
People are the un-safe portion, remove that, and you’d have far less accidents.
Supercharging has become too expensive.
Big disappointment. If they could have matched existing diesel prices, while being cheaper over time, it would be a slam dunk. bummer.
As we have seen, the cost and even availability of diesel and other fossil fuels can vary widely from just one persons delusions of grandeur. EV’s offer a “predictability cushion” no matter how the power is produced, though obviously renewable sources are less likely to be interrupted by someone’s tantrum. As for “only AI” driving semi’s, let it do what AI should improve on, like reaction time. But for driving events not predicted, I’d still feel comfortable with a person “somewhere” in the loop. It’s the difference between an inexperienced driver who may know 100% of the rules, all the time. And an experienced driver, who adapts when no rules apply to some aspect, of a “situation”.