This week, on the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada, Tesla delivered the primary Tesla Semis to PepsiCo. I watched it stay, being vastly enthusiastic about it because of the causes I discussed in my current article in regards to the Semi and figuring I’d write an article proper after it.
Then I watched it once more. And once more. Now, as I write this, I’m watching the supply occasion a fourth time as I write this.
A have a look at the brand new groundbreaking Tesla Semi. Picture courtesy of Tesla.
This Tesla presentation stood out as a result of not like nearly all of the shows that Tesla does, it felt rather more common than a conventional Tesla occasion, the place they often stick Elon Musk and a nervous supervisor on stage to debate in unbelievable element the enhancements which can be made because of the modifications which have occurred. Evaluate this to a conventional auto producer presentation, the place they typically focus the speak extra across the ardour of the group and the way nice the product is, often with a slick presentation typically executed with individuals who don’t actually work on the firm.
This supply occasion stood out to me for feeling rather more just like the latter. It had Elon Musk on stage, along with his form of oddly endearing presentation model. Beside him was Dan Priestley, the Tesla Semi program supervisor who I don’t assume was formally named on the livestream. Their presentation lined the identical primary beats that we had seen within the authentic Tesla Semi unveil occasion 5 years in the past, and didn’t include a ton of technical data that I usually like to dig into the next day, as an alternative simply giving us just a few newsworthy bits.
Presentation Overview
The presentation begins with Musk acknowledging it took 5 years since being introduced for deliveries of the primary Tesla Semis. He added that the supply occasion was being held the place the Tesla Semi is being produced, on the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada. Individuals on the occasion apparently had been capable of tour the manufacturing line earlier than the occasion started, which I’ll admit I used to be disenchanted to not see.
Musk and Priestley transfer on to dialogue of the influence of the Tesla Semi when it comes to emissions and sound, and the way that aligns with the mission of Tesla. A slide is proven titled Masking Main Types of Terrestrial Transport which features a lined robotaxi because the fifth slot, though it isn’t talked about.
We transfer on to effectivity and sturdiness. Musk mentioned how completely different the Tesla Semi is to drive when in comparison with a conventional semi truck, with 3 times the ability of a conventional semi truck. Priestly talked about the ability comes from a 1000-volt powertrain. A brand new slide reveals Tesla techniques used within the Semi and the way a lot real-world use they’ve already had in different merchandise. Then they describe the testing that has been executed on the Tesla Semi. Elon provides that Tesla can be utilizing the Tesla Semi to haul items itself, making a lightning quick suggestions loop for additional enchancment.
Subsequent up is the powertrain itself, which Musk and Priestley notice relies on the Mannequin S and X Plaid powertrain, however with the flexibility to disconnect two of the drive items when not wanted for additional effectivity. That is illustrated with a completely loaded Tesla Semi climbing a 6% grade and utilizing the ability offered to cross and even acquire velocity. What goes up should come down, in order that they focus on how regenerative braking permits the truck to not burn by brakes and provides a layer of security on the identical time. Extra security options are talked about, though not expanded on.
Now we truly arrive on the effectivity half, the place the announcement is made that one of many Tesla Semis just lately accomplished a completely loaded (practically 82,000 pound) 500 mile check in the actual world, proving that it may be executed. Aside from a compulsory 30 minute break, there was no stopping or charging throughout this check. Priestley explains that the truck was optimized with the trailer to make sure essentially the most effectivity attainable, whereas a simplistic view of the truck in a wind tunnel is proven.
We’re instructed that the Tesla Semi has been designed with the motive force in thoughts, each from the consolation issue to the capabilities that can assist truckers full their shifts faster. Instantly following this, there’s a slide revealing the Supercharger V4, a 1000 volt “Megacharger” that may obtain and cross a megawatt of energy, which can be used for each the Tesla Semi and the Cybertruck. This connection will begin to be deployed subsequent yr.
The important thing to this all is sustainable power infrastructure, the place we’d generate, retailer, and deploy sustainable power. The Tesla Megapack is introduced as an answer to clean energy calls for on the grid and supply a backup in case of an influence outage.
And identical to that, it’s time for the primary deliveries to start! Nearly precisely half-hour after the start of the occasion, two PepsiCo executives be a part of Musk and Priestly, and Priestly palms the execs what look like two keycards for the Tesla Semis. A excessive 5 is exchanged, the PepsiCo execs categorical their appreciation for the group that made this occur, and it’s introduced there’s a shock at the back of one of many vans — one of many Tesla Semis was truly delivered yesterday and returned to the Gigafactory with a load of Frito-Lay snacks for these in attendance. Musk reiterates his appreciation for the individuals who have caught with Tesla whereas this product was developed and hopes that it revolutionizes transport.
My Takeaways
This was an interesting occasion not due to what was mentioned, however due to what I really feel wasn’t. I absolutely anticipated to fireplace up my pc at present to run spreadsheets and make calculations based mostly on what we had been instructed to attempt to again the battery price numbers out and to see the place we’re at. After the Cybertruck reveal, I excitedly wrote an article trying to just do that, after which one other making use of what the conclusions I had drawn meant for different merchandise in the event that they had been correct.
However there was none of that. In response to the notes I took — and I believe I saved watching the presentation anticipating to search out one thing I missed — the one actual new issues had been affirmation of the 1000-volt powertrain for the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck, V4 Superchargers, and the transient dialogue that alluded to Megapacks being deployed to clean the grid for fleet operators. None of these caught out to me as new data to spend a half day researching that might doubtlessly change my assumption about how Tesla is working, or the lead they could have in sure know-how.
What actually caught out to me was how this presentation greater than another I had seen was precisely what somebody who had by no means seen a Tesla occasion would have anticipated to see.
Tesla shows are inclined to observe a definite method — Tesla proclaims an occasion, the media in addition to buyers get hyped and begin speaking about what one of the best case state of affairs for that presentation may very well be, Tesla places folks on the stage who excitedly clarify what went into the product, typically utilizing extremely technical phrases and descriptions which can be troublesome if not unimaginable to completely perceive until you’re immersed in that world already, and the next day the occasion is panned within the media and the inventory worth drops, earlier than deep dives on what was revealed are accomplished and the inventory worth maybe raises — typically considerably — as the knowledge is digested. As an alternative, we obtained a clean presentation gentle on particulars, and a inventory worth that as I write that is comparatively flat (as I edit it, it’s down 1.4%, which is a fairly regular fluctuation for Tesla inventory on any given day).
I’ll admit the maths aspect of me is a bit disenchanted that I don’t have any numbers to dig into and speculate on. I’m excited to see these vans roaming the streets of the actual world, and hope that manufacturing might be ramped extraordinarily rapidly. I’m far much less involved in regards to the Tesla Semi as a revenue driver, and extra as an announcement to the world that the period of really sustainable highway transportation has arrived. I really feel the presentation confirmed my beliefs from earlier within the week (and from about 5 years in the past), and I’ll eagerly be searching for further data on the Tesla Semi so I can dissect it additional. I’m excited for that.
What did you consider the supply occasion? Something I missed?
*Disclaimer: I’m a Tesla [NASDAQ:TSLA] shareholder. Analysis I do for articles, together with this text, could compel me to extend or lower inventory positions. Nevertheless, I cannot accomplish that inside 48 hours after any article is revealed through which I focus on issues that I really feel could materially have an effect on inventory worth. I don’t consider that my voice might or ought to affect inventory worth by itself, and I strongly warning anybody towards utilizing my work as your sole knowledge level to decide on to take a position or divest in any firm. My articles are my opinion, which was formulated utilizing analysis based mostly on publicly accessible knowledge. Nevertheless, my analysis or conclusions could also be incorrect.
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