According to Tesla, the Semi, its semi-trailer variant of the electric vehicle, boasts a range of up to 500 miles, which is roughly one-third of the range typically seen in diesel-powered semis — approximately 1,500 to 2,000 miles. If Tesla’s projected range for the Semi holds true, it is quite remarkable, but there are often inconsistencies between a company’s claims and real-world outcomes. Tesla also guaranteed a significant range for the Cybertruck — 325 miles per charge, compared to the 226 to 293 miles achieved in practical situations.
Insights from Run on Less — Messy Middle may indicate that Tesla’s Semi isn’t truly delivering that 500-mile range to drivers on the road. The objective of Run on Less is to gather information regarding transportation and logistics vehicles utilizing alternative powertrain options such as electric power, to aid in exploring and determining infrastructure requirements. For Tesla, Run on Less collated data from the EV manufacturer’s collaboration with PepsiCo, monitoring Tesla Semis during delivery runs and logging mileage and charging intervals.
Nonetheless, 2023 statistics reveal that Tesla Semis averaged 794 miles daily, with the trucks achieving between 227 to 377 miles per charge. Although this is somewhat lower than Tesla’s promise, it’s important to recognize that the trucks did not invariably stop at 0% battery capacity.
