What Tesla’s Plans for Its Class 8 Electric Trucks Could Mean for Grads of Dispatch School
In November of 2017, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Semi, a fully-sized, electric battery powered Class 8 semi truck. A working prototype of the truck was showcased, boasting an impressive range, performance, and acceleration figures. Now, the company has set a key production goal for the truck that, if reached, could indicate a massive shift taking place in the transportation industry.
Here’s what future dispatchers might see.
Tesla’s Aim for a Huge Production Figure Could Decide the Nature of Future Fleets
As it stands, the Tesla Semi is set to roll into production in 2019, with the company planning to carry out extensive research and testing over the course of this year. In February, Musk gave some solidity to the project’s goals—stating that the company will produce at least 100,000 Tesla Semis annually within four years. This is the kind of scale that dispatchers have been waiting to hear, and it’s confirmation that Tesla is looking to eat a large chunk of the truck production pie—with approximately 260,000 heavy duty trucks made every year across North America. With the likes of PepsiCo and Walmart already having placed early orders and seeking at least 100 trucks each, there’s been a warm reception to the move.
That said, the production target is very ambitious, with the chief executive of one major transport company calling it “extremely aggressive”. By far one of the biggest hurdles Tesla will need to overcome before fleets of electric trucks take over the roads is the charging network issue. With no existing infrastructure to charge these large vehicles, Tesla is now working with early purchasers, including UPS, to break ground on charging sites, while background issues like local energy prices continue to loom. Graduates of dispatch schools may find the recharging issue and Tesla’s ability to keep up with production demand as key to whether their employers adopt the vehicle in the immediate future.
Faster, Cost-Saving Vehicles Could Have Pros with Dispatch Training Delivering Better Stats
The industry knows the performance statistics outlined for the truck are impressive. This includes going from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds with no load, compared to what the company describes as a standard truck taking 15 seconds. It also promises better performance on slopes, delivering speeds of up to 104 km/h on a 5 per cent gradient, compared to just 72 km/h for a traditional big rig.
These statistics are rounded out by an estimated operating cost of approximately $1.26 ($1.59 CAD) per mile compared with a cost of $1.51 ($1.91 CAD) for a standard truck, and a range of over 800 km per charge. Should the truck go on to be able to deliver this, and fleets to make the changeover, a professional with dispatch training could see improved performance figures. These could include faster overall delivery times, improved progress over hilly or mountainous routes, and the ability to haul loads on a smaller budget.
Grads of Dispatch School Could Be Working with a Fleet That Is Considerably Safer
With road safety being an ever-important issue, authorities like Transport Canada are always looking for new measures in the push towards safer driving. The Tesla Semi could be an attractive option on that front, as it looks set to offer a top-of-the-line range of driver-assistance devices, including radars, ultrasonic sensors, and a suite of cameras that could replace traditional truck mirrors.
Do you want to build a rewarding career in the fast-moving transportation business?
Contact Automotive Training Centres today to learn how our dispatch courses in Surrey could be the perfect choice for you.
