this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2024
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Electric Vehicles

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DHL says that it was able to confirm that the Tesla Semi is capable of 500 miles on a single charge with a full load.

But more importantly, DHL confirmed that it achieved an efficiency of 1.72 kWh/mile on average during its two-week trial:

During the trial, the trial vehicle averaged 1.72 kWh/mile operating at speeds exceeding 50 mph (80 km/h) on average for over half its time on the road. The result exceeded our expectations and even Tesla’s own rating. That’s exactly what Tesla has been predicting, and in fact, Tesla says that it now does a little better with 1.6 kWh per mile.

kWh per mile means that this is the amount of energy it needs to travel a mile. Considering that 1.7 kWh of electricity can cost as low as $0.15, it opens up the opportunity to greatly reduced the cost of operation of semi trucks.

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[–] julianwgs@discuss.tchncs.de 21 points 6 days ago

For everyone interested in the topic there is an English version of a German electric trucking channel: https://youtube.com/@electrictrucker.

TLDR; Every major truck company has an electric truck for sale, they have the same daily range in Europe and are significantly cheaper to operate.

He is a startup found turned truck driver who does weekly vlogs about his work and gives good insights about the current state of electric trucking in Europe. At the moment every large trucking company (not just Tesla) have electric trucks on sale and the company he is working for bought quite a few from different companies. He gets day ranges of 750km with the right traffic conditions and also just charges in his 45min breaks which you have to take every 3.5h I believe. Also the daily driving is limited to 10h and the maximum speed limit is 80 kph, so the theoretical maximum range of a single driver truck in Europe is a little bit above 800km. That puts electric truck right now on par with diesel trucks, because you cant always drive the at the maximum speed limit. Also he calculated once that electric trucks are roughly 30% cheeper.

[–] bamfic@lemmy.world -2 points 6 days ago

It didnt catch fire?

[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 55 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Tired truckers + touchscreens that are not control by feel are a disaster waiting to happen. Full touchscreen controls in cars needs to end.

[–] GladiusB@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

First off, there are already full screen displays in diesel engine rigs because many electronic log systems are done on full tablets. Second, using them is illegal and monitored in most major fleets. Third, there are limits to moving vehicles to only a certain amount of inputs before there is a pause or a lockout. You can connect your phone while driving or scroll through everything without having to stop.

[–] lud@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Don't you heavily regulate sleep and driving times for drivers in the USA?

[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Sure there are rules but there are no consequences for businesses that don't follow the rules anymore. USA law enforcement is a joke.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I'm tired of this hyperbole. Of course there is accountability for businesses in the USA. Not for all of them, I admit, but it's absurd to say "no one follows the law in the USA."

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

In general, yes, but in trucking it's incredibly common to drive over hours or try to because the trucking company requires it.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 0 points 6 days ago

Only poor people and small businesses follow the law* ftfy

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Speeds "exceeding 50 MPH"? Like, 51 MPH? The claimed efficiency is nonsense given the promotional videos from Tesla where they tried to obscure the driving time, distance, and speed. It also flies in the face of the EV Semi testing conducted last year

DHL's statement is that their longest run was 390 mines, with no information about state of charge at the beginning or end. They are extrapolating the 500 mile distance.

This sounds like Pepsi's first press statements before they found out what shit boxes these trucks are the hard way.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

This sounds like Pepsi’s first press statements before they found out what shit boxes these trucks are the hard way.

Do you have info on this? I hadn't heard any negative reaction from Pepsi.

Edit: I did my own searching at I'm even more skeptical of your claim Pepsi doesn't like Tesla Semi. Their biggest complaint is that they can't buy as many as they want.. In that article they even say they're buying additional electric Semi trucks from competitors, but competitor trucks have half the range. In this article from 3 days ago Pepsi is talking a how much they like the Tesla Semi. And in this article Pepsi talks about how the Pepsi truck drivers like the Tesla Semi.. So nothing here matches what you're saying. I'm interested to see what you saw to form your conclusion.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Speeds "exceeding 50 MPH"? Like, 51 MPH?

Yes, 51 would be an example of a number that exceeds 50, well done.

The claimed efficiency is nonsense given the promotional videos from Tesla where they tried to obscure the driving time, distance, and speed.

Where did you see that? It says right in the article that the company has verified that the performance exceeds Tesla's claims, so I don't see any reason they would do that.

It also flies in the face of the EV Semi testing conducted last year

What testing?

DHL's statement is that their longest run was 390 mines, with no information about state of charge at the beginning or end. They are extrapolating the 500 mile distance.

  1. They probably simply didn't need 500 miles for anything.

  2. This is how EVs actually work. You don't charge them to 100% then discharge them to 0%. You keep it somewhere in the middle, for a variety of reasons.

This sounds like Pepsi's first press statements before they found out what shit boxes these trucks are the hard way.

When did Pepsi call them shitboxes?

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world -1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

so I don’t see any reason they would do that.

You don't see any reason Tesla would fudge their numbers and drive the Semi slowly? I can think of several reasons.

What testing?

Well you can look at the Run on Less campaign, and then start googling for other tests.

This is how EVs actually work.

Yes, but it's NOT how Tesla claims their 500 mile range. Also, every time a Tesla Semi has attempted the longest range driving, the packs have died. Not just run out of charge, but been physically damaged from draining them so low. You don't have to explain how an EV is operated in real life, I've daily driven one for many years now.

When did Pepsi call them shitboxes?

Well, a Pepsi employee. Obviously Pepsi can't say that in the media because Tesla will take away their vehicles which means Pepsi won't qualify for enough tax credits.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

You don't see any reason Tesla would fudge their numbers and drive the Semi slowly? I can think of several reasons.

You're just intentionally ignoring the first half of that sentence where I said their numbers were verified in real-world use by third parties.

Well you can look at the Run on Less campaign, and then start googling for other tests.

I found a "Run on Less" page. Nothing about any testing. Perhaps you have a link?

Yes, but it's NOT how Tesla claims their 500 mile range.

LOL what? 500 mile range is a 500 mile range. There is no "how". There's only one way that works.

Also, every time a Tesla Semi has attempted the longest range driving, the packs have died.

Sauce?

You don't have to explain how an EV is operated in real life

I mean you made it pretty clear that I did.

Well, a Pepsi employee. Obviously Pepsi can't say that in the media because Tesla will take away their vehicles.

How convenient. If they're such shitboxes, why would they care?

There are zero links in your comment. I don't believe you.

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world -3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I said their numbers were verified in real-world use by third parties.

When you look at the Drive on Less data, it isn't.

I found a “Run on Less” page. Nothing about any testing. Perhaps you have a link?

Um, what are you talking about? Literally the entire campaign is about collecting fleet data over an 18 day period.

LOL what? 500 mile range is a 500 mile range. There is no “how”. There’s only one way that works.

Ok, so then if I can find a 500 mile down hill stretch and I take the battery out completely, I have a 500 mile range. That's what you just said, and I think you know that's nonsense.

Sauce?

See the links I already posted.

I don’t believe you.

Ok. That doesn't really impact me. You can believe the company that his lied constantly about capabilities if you want, that's fine. Not being skeptical at all of their claims makes complete sense given their track record at this point.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Whenever you're ready to back any of this up, I'm ready to take a look at it.

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world -4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Like I said, it doesn't really impact me. So, you can feel how you want to feel. I don't believe anything Tesla says because I've owned one, and I know how they attempt to manipulate their news cycle. I also downloaded the raw data and ran the numbers myself. The Semi does not achieve 500 mile range with a full gross weight traveling at normal highway speeds. You can calculate the rate of SOC decline between data points where the average speed was > 50 MPH and it comes nowhere close.

Now, if on the other hand the title said DHL was happy with their Semi test bed then that wouldn't really be up for dispute. But the instant the title said it achieves 500 miles then I'm sorry but there's no data to support that claim that has ever been published. And I promise you, if such data did exist Tesla would be the first to brag about it incessantly.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Like I said, it doesn't really impact me

Then why do you keep coming back here and replying to me? Post sources or don't spread disinformation. We're not interested in your anecdotes.

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world -4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I figured we were having a discussion. Calling it disinformation is hilarious though.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

We're not having a discussion. You're just injecting your opinions into a conversation and then refusing to provide any evidence.

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

The dude's obviously a troll or a frustration vampire. Just block him.

[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world -3 points 5 days ago

Cool. Yeah, that's how people behave. You should meet more of them, I think. Also, quite a bit of that piece is Fred's opinion, so maybe consider that.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

No info on total tonnage hauled either. Most electric semis will not be able to haul as much stuff at once.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I saw another source that said they were hauling 75,000lbs total weight and that's as much as they ever usually haul. So they don't max out their trucks on a daily basis carrying parcels, so for them whatever the total allowable difference is between an EV/ICE isn't an issue.

Edit: I guess that if DHL grew as a business though they might eventually start moving more packages around and that would require more weight, but that's not a today thing.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

If so that's great. I was hearing 10-15% less goods moved for battery semis, which is still probably worth it, but a hard pill to swallow in an industry that is severely understaffed.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

We still don't really know what the difference is for the Tesla Semi but most speculation I've seen as we learn more is 1 to 2 tons after the extra 2000lbs EVs are allowed to carry, which is less than 10%

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Most electric semis will not be able to haul as much stuff at once.

I agree with this statement, but not all trucks are weightbound. Many hit their volume limits long before weight limits. Additional with TCO its possible the cost per mile of operating an electric semi might still be worth hauling less tonnage per truck requiring additional shipments.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 4 points 1 week ago

And not all trucks are long distance haulers, so they could possibly do a full circle of their daily runs in the single range limit, regardless of the load. It's definitely an investment that assumes a payoff in the long future of lower fuel costs and less maintenance. And only actual use by companies for years will tell the real story.

[–] DigitalNeighbor@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

For most of the world, 1.72 kWh/mile is about 1.07kWh/km and 107kWh/100km.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Eheran@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Just divide 1 by the kWh/mile.

[–] Homescool@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

DHL is a very troubled company and should not be trusted. This is an ROI study agreement between DHL and Tesla.

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 5 points 1 week ago

Is that the one where the driver sits in the center of the cab?

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

X

What is a full load of a Tesla truck when compared to a Scania truck?

[–] Mango@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Edison Motors > Tesla

Fight me.

[–] sturlabragason@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] MisterD@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Still too musky for me. Shit can the fascist first.

[–] sturlabragason@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

That is a given. Eat the rich while we are at it.