The Tesla Semi has been spotted in public for the first time. With development now in full swing, more companies are placing their reservations for Tesla's upcoming electric truck.
A prototype of the Tesla Semi was recently seen driving along the suburban streets of Sunnyvale, California. Though the clip is only eight seconds long, several notable observations can be gleaned from the footage.
First, the Tesla Semi prototype, which featured a matte black exterior paint, was observed to be very fast and quiet. In comparison, a diesel-powered truck would be making a lot of noise in order to make its way down the road at the same speed. Unlike the Semi that was presented during the unveiling event, the prototype was equipped with full-size mirrors and a giant wiper on the windshield.
The Tesla Semi was also seen with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) No. 2298288, which suggests that the vehicle isn't simply a prototype. Rather, it seems that the electric truck is actually being used to haul materials for Tesla. This speculation seems plausible given that Sunnyvale is in between Tesla headquarters in Palo Alto and the automaker's factory in Freemont.
Officially introduced last November, the Semi is an all-electric Class 8 truck is powered by four electric motors. It is able to provide either 300 or 500 miles of range, depending on the battery size. Even with a cargo load of 80,000 pounds, the electric truck will be able to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 20 seconds.
With these specifications in mind, it is not a surprise that more and more companies are placing their orders for the Tesla Semi. To date, there have been at least 20 companies who have made reservations with a total order of at least 380 units.
UPS placed the largest order yet at 125 units followed by PepsiCo with 100 units. Food provider Sysco has placed 50 orders while brewing company Anheuser-Busch has 40 and DHL has 10. Most recently, Des Moines-based company Ruan Transportation Management Systems placed five reservations for the Tesla Semi.
