Elon Musk’s most recent forecast of the frequently delayed Tesla Semi electric vehicle delivery before the end of the year seems to be coming true. A production-intent vehicle is depicted in new information on Tesla’s website. However, many issues remain.

Three new videos and images of the second-generation prototype may be found on the Tesla website. The tweet that said “500 mile range Semi Truck starts shipping this year” was sent by Elon Musk on August 10. In late 2023, Musk last anticipated the truck’s arrival.

The newly revised webpage makes no mention of production timing. The orderbook, which calls for a $20,000 down payment per vehicle, appears to be closed. A “Get Updates” button has taken the position of the “Order Now” button. The website no longer lists the previous prices of $150,000 for the 300-mile version and $180,000 for the 500-mile truck.

Since the Semi’s debut in 2017, it has received thousands of orders from fleets of different sizes. Only Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo company, is waiting for early delivery trucks. By the end of 2021, 15 Semis were anticipated to be delivered. In Modesto, California, where Frito-Lay distributes its products, Tesla has constructed a Mega Charger.

Tesla changed a few things about the prototype. The Semi will have three separate electric motors on the rear axles rather than four. In order for drivers to safely merge and stay up with traffic, the business guarantees rapid torque and unparalleled power at any speed.

Tesla claims acceleration from 0-60 mph in 20 seconds for a fully loaded truck with a total gross combined weight of 82,000 pounds and the capacity to maintain highway speeds up a 5% grade. Tesla claims that between February and July in California, using electricity to charge will be 2.5 times less expensive than doing it with fuel.

According to Tesla, a typical diesel-powered truck would save $200,000 in gasoline over three years.

According to Tesla, better braking and motor controls boost stability and traction in every situation. A central seating position allows exceptional visibility, much like construction equipment. An all-electric architecture reduces both the rolling accident danger and the cabin intrusion risk.

The original prototype’s traction drive one motor was taken out, but the Semi still maintains its 300- and 500-mile driving ranges between charges. Each one only consumes 2 kilowatt (kWh) hours of electricity each mile.

The Semi Changer, often referred to as the Mega Charger, has a 30-minute charge recovery time of 70% for the batteries. Direct-current condition of charge to 80% is what rivals guarantee in 90 minutes.

Only a few days remain for truckers to get ready for the Brake Safety Week inspection and enforcement campaign of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

This year, from August 21 to 27, Brake Safety Week will be observed in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Inspectors will conduct Level I and V North American Standard Inspections during Brake Safety Week and provide the CVSA with brake-related data.

This year’s Brake Safety Week will focus on brake hose/tubing chafing infractions.

According to the CVSA, brake violations make up the majority of all out-of-service vehicle infractions noted during roadside inspections, and according to data from the International Roadcheck program from the previous year, brake systems and brake adjustment violations made up the greatest percentage of all out-of-service vehicle infractions, or 38.9% of all infractions.

Officers will be on the lookout for non-manufactured holes (such as rust holes and holes generated by rubbing or friction) and broken springs in the spring brake housing area of the parking brake while completing the brake phase of the inspection. They will make sure the air chambers on each axle are the same size and that the slack adjusters are the same length (from the center of the S-cam to the center of the clevis pin). Additionally, they will check any necessary warning lights for the brake system, such as the low air pressure and ABS malfunction lamps. Additionally, inspectors will check the tractor protection system, including the bleed-back system on the trailer, and make sure the breakaway mechanism on the trailer is functional.

FLORIDA’S JACKSONVILLE — As part of the company’s 2022 All-Star Truck Giveaway, Landstar driver James Johnson of Arlington, Texas, received a sky blue 2023 Volvo VNL860 with all the registration and tax payments paid.

Johnson joined Landstar in 2004 and was inducted into the new class of Landstar Million Mile Safe Drivers during the occasion. He said the new truck will enable him to transport loads to and from more locations across the nation.

Johnson said he believes this new truck will bring his business and family success for many years to come. Johnson said he plans to one day hand his company down to his son.

Johnson was chosen at random as one of four finalists from among the more than 1,100 qualifying BCOs, or independent truck owner-operators, who were leased to a Landstar motor carrier.

The finalists each chose one of four boxes from a selection of four during the event, one of which had a dummy truck key.

Johnson stated, “I chose box number two since I was selected second as a finalist and I saw that as a hint as to which box I should choose.”

He responded, “All I can say is, God is awesome,” when asked how he felt about earning the new truck.

The Landstar Million Mile Safe Drivers and Roadstar honorees—the best and safest Landstar BCOs—are the only ones eligible for the All-Star Truck Giveaway. Each of the owner-operators has logged at least a million miles with Landstar without having an accident that could have been avoided.

According to Energy Information Administration data issued on August 8, the national average price of diesel fell to less than $5 a gallon for the first time since March, dropping 14.5 cents to settle at $4.993.

• On March 7, diesel reached a price of $4.849 after a 74.5-cent increase brought it down from $5. The next week, it increased to $5.25, and on June 20 it reached its peak of $5.81.
• The price of diesel has decreased for seven weeks in a row, reaching 81.7 cents.
• The price of the primary gasoline for trucks is still $1.629 more now than it was in 2021.
• Prices decreased on average across all 10 of the EIA’s regions. California and the West Coast at large had the biggest decreases.

However, are electric trucks and EVs in general truly zero-emission vehicles?
The two forms of emissions to take into account are greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.
Electric cars (EVs) have zero tailpipe emissions, which means they don’t produce greenhouse gases or other air pollutants like fossil fuel-powered vehicles do.
Smog in cities is caused by air pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides. Since air pollution can cause asthma, lung issues, and even mortality, less air pollutants can have a significant positive impact on human health.