Tesla Semi vs Volvo VNR Electric
Tesla's first principles approach to heavy trucking, has resulted in 5 huge advantages, that Volvo's VNR Electric Semi, just cannot compete with. First and foremost is the efficiency. A fully loaded Tesla semi has a duty-cycle tested efficiency of 1.7 kilowatt hour per mile. Links to the sources are available in the pinned comment. And the best bit about Tesla's efficiency, is that it has been achieved without any compromise in performance. In fact, the Semi's performance is way better than any diesel semi has ever offered in the market. Conventional class 8 semis are powered by about five-hundred horsepower diesel engines. The Tesla semi has fifteen hundred horsepower. And don't think Tesla has gone crazy giving so much power either. The best thing about electric powertrains, is that they don't lose out half their efficiency, when their power output is doubled or tripled, like diesel engines do. What Tesla has smartly done, is that they have used a tri motor setup, in which they can disengage, two of the motors, using a clutch mechanism while cruising. After all, a diesel semi does not have three engines out of which two can be disengaged, does it? End result is that an electric semi does not get bogged down on hill climbs and ramps like a diesel does. Volvo in the other hand, has a power output of just 455 horsepower, limited by both their battery's discharge rate, as well as the outdated thought process of their management. The difference in electrical architecture is apparent, when you compare the charging speeds. The Tesla semi can charge at thrice the speed of Volvo VNR. Tesla's energy density is also far superior to Volvo's. The 600 kilowatt hour Tesla Semi, is two tons lighter than the VNR. That also means the Tesla Semi will also earn eight percent higher revenue, every trip, thanks to higher payload. Not to forget, it's turnaround time will be lesser than Volvo's, meaning more trips per month, as well. Last but not the least, is the difference in price. Although the price of the Volvo VNR keeps changing with every month, the latest deals have been made for around 250 to 300 grand. This is almost twice as much as the prices that Tesla have announced for their semi, going on sale, sometime next year. Volvo has showcased the upcoming VNL electric platform to compete with it. However, it is just not possible for Volvo to compete with Tesla on price, simply because it is not as much vertically integrated as Tesla, in terms of making battery cells, motors etc. Of course, there's one elephant in the room, that Volvo doesn't want to talk about, and that is Tesla's autonomous driving capability. This single factor can make a 100,000 dollar difference in running costs per year. Tesla's tech is ready, while Volvo hasn't even started.
1.7 kWh/mile - https://www.freightcarbonzero.com/zero-carbon-vehicles/tesla-semi-unladen-weights-revealed/18819.article
1.7 kWh/mile - https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-electric-semi-vs-mercedes-benz-actros-e600-truck-comparison/
1.72 kWh/mile - https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/vehicles-fleet/dhl-to-introduce-tesla-semi-electric-truck-into-fleet-in-2026.html
1.73 kWh/mile - https://www.truckingdive.com/news/saia-deploys-tesla-semi-electric-trucks/736297/
Tesla Semi Kerb Weight, Curb Weight, Unladen Weight Source:
https://www.freightcarbonzero.com/zero-carbon-vehicles/tesla-semi-unladen-weights-revealed/18819.article