DHL, the worldwide shipping service, has reportedly ordered 10 Tesla Semi trucks. DHL joins big-name companies like Wal-Mart, Ryder, J.B. Hunt, and Loblaws in the early adoption of Tesla’s newest model. The down payment for reserving a Semi is $20,000 – 10-percent of the truck’s full price. And though Tesla has not released its official numbers, roughly 200 trucks have reportedly already been ordered.

DHL told the Wall Street Journal it will use the Tesla Semi for shuttle runs and same-day customer deliveries in major U.S. cities while testing the trucks on long-haul-routes to evaluate driver safety and comfort. Like its other products, the Tesla Semi will offer self-driving capabilities, which should be a big help to truck drivers. Ther’s also an energy-saving “convoy mode” that allows for an autonomously controlled line of closely spaced Semis, which reduces aerodynamic drag on the following trucks.

Tesla says its Semi will travel a minimum of 500 miles on a single charge and have access to Tesla’s planned network of charging stations called Mega Chargers. The powerful electric motors will outgun current turbodiesel trucks, too. It has a claimed 0-to-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds when empty and only 20 seconds when loaded with a full 80,000 pounds. Climbing and descending hilly terrain will also be easier and safer, as well.

Though this is Tesla’s first swing into the 18-wheeler market, the California company has been working with DHL and other potential customers over the last year to offer feedback on prototype trucks. Needless to say, a mistake in this segment would be terribly costly for all involved.

References

Tesla Semi

Read our full review on the 2019 Tesla Semi.

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