In a bid to get in the priority line for the much heralded Tesla Semi truck, http://gty.im/631887682 put in an order for 40 semis.

While smaller trucking companies and similarly sized businesses are sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see the electrification of their fleets and the economic benefits of switching over, larger companies that are able to test trial new technologies are throwing their hat in. According to the Wall Street Journal on their report on Anheuser-Busch’s latest investment, the American beer company is betting on the economics behind electric vehicles and the timely arrival of Tesla’s big rig with an order of 40 Tesla Semi trucks. With the ability travel 500-miles on a single charge, these trucks will be used to mainly transport large amounts of beer from their factories to local wholesalers.

 

Owned and managed by outside carriers, with a fleet of over 750 trucks, adding 40 electric semis is a small percentage of trucks compared to regular gas and diesel-powered ones. Presumably, with little to no maintenance to the batteries and integrated self-automated technologies, as advertised, these Tesla Semi’s will eventually be a better investment in the long road than traditional fossil fueled trucks.

According to Annheuser-Busch, the biggest costs when transporting beer is fuel for the trucks and money spent hiring drivers. If Tesla’s semi’s can make a significant dent in how long it takes to transport the beer and makes it economically feasible by eventually paying for itself in fuel costs over the years, perhaps more Tesla Semis will be ordered and other companies would be more willing to take a technological risk.

Not to mention, some companies, like AB, have taken a pledge towards a smaller carbon footprint. The switch to Tesla semis would greatly reduce any company’s carbon footprint if they are significantly dependant on transport.

The weight of the batteries, the purported range, and the performance of these trucks still is a question of contention for these investors. There has been no word from Tesla on the size of the batteries, how much range is affected by weight, and how well these trucks perform with a full-load.

AB was mum on how much they spent on reservations. The deal was put in writing even before the Tesla Semi Truck was revealed so there’s no way of knowing the final amount paid. As of right now, Tesla is asking a $20,000 upfront payment for each truck.

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