Electric car maker Tesla is starting production of its Semi lorry, chief executive Elon Musk has announced.
Mr Musk confirmed via Twitter that deliveries of the lorry would commence on December 1, with Pepsi the first recipient.
“500 mile range & super fun to drive,” the billionaire said.
The Semi was first unveiled in 2017 when Mr Musk said, tongue in cheek, that it could “transform into a robot, fight aliens and make one hell of a latte” and also claimed it would “blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension”.
On a more serious note, he said at the time that the cost of ownership of the Semi would be 20 per cent less per mile compared with diesel trucks, while also having faster acceleration, better uphill performance and “thermonuclear explosion-proof glass”.
Autopilot and lane-keeping technology would be present, and jackknifing would be “impossible”, Mr Musk said.
The Tesla website states that the Semi accelerates from zero to about 100 kilometres an hour in 20 seconds.
“Three independent motors provide instant torque and unmatched power at any speed so drivers can merge safely and keep pace with traffic,” the company said.
“Accelerate from 0-60 mph in 20 seconds, fully loaded, and maintain highway-level speeds, even up steep grades.
“A central seating position gives the driver better visibility while an all-electric architecture reduces both rollover risk and cabin intrusion in case of an accident.”
When it comes to charging, 70 per cent of the range can be recovered in 30 minutes using Tesla’s Semi Chargers.
Tesla said charging with electricity is about 2.5 times cheaper per mile than refuelling with diesel.
“Operators can see estimated fuel savings of up to $200,000 within their first three years of ownership,” it added.
The lorry is expected to cost $180,000 in the US, although it would qualify for a tax break of up to $40,000 under a US subsidy programme approved by the Senate.
Pepsi had previously said it aims to use the lorries to ship snack foods and beverages between manufacturing and distribution centres, as well as to retailers, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, the Tesla Cybertruck is scheduled to enter production next year.
The futuristic, angular, armoured-looking vehicle was launched in 2019 and Mr Musk said it would sell for $39,900, although that was with a view to production beginning in late 2021.
Tesla has since raised the prices of its vehicles due to significant inflationary pressure in raw materials and logistics during the crisis in Ukraine.
It has “a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton, every component is designed for superior strength and endurance, from Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin, to Tesla armour glass”, according to the Tesla website.
Mr Musk tweeted last month that it would “be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy”.
MWTC
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- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
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The specs
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Overall standings
1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,
2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.
3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.
4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.
5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.
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Lexus LX700h specs
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Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
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