Tesla (TSLA) recently began mass production of its electric truck "Semi." Beyond being an eco-friendly mode of transport, it is already being hailed as a game changer that could shake up the freight industry. 800km Range: Crossing the Critical Threshold for Electric Trucks The core of the newly mass-produced Tesla Semi is its overwhelming driving performance. The Long Range model can travel approximately 500 miles (800km) on a single charge. Until now, the industry has broadly pointed out that short driving ranges made long-haul freight impossible with electric trucks. But the Semi has broken through this limit with its battery performance. Tesla's next-generation battery technology, the "4680 battery," has been applied. The 4680 battery is a large cylindrical cell measuring 46mm in diameter and 80mm in height, featuring significantly improved energy density compared to existing batteries. Tesla previously announced in 2023 that it would invest $3.6 billion (approximately 5.34 trillion won) to expand its Nevada plant and secure production facilities for the Semi truck and 4680 batteries. Additionally, the battery is designed to last for 1 million miles (approximately 1.6 million km) of driving. This means the truck can operate throughout its entire life cycle without battery replacement. It is expected to dramatically lower maintenance costs, a sensitive issue for truck owners. The industry is paying particular attention to the driving range. 800km covers a significant portion of freight routes within the United States, and in Korean terms, it is equivalent to a round trip between Seoul and Busan. In other words, it has crossed the technical threshold. The Semi is a truck only in appearance, with Tesla's cutting-edge technology applied throughout its interior. First, a 48V architecture has been introduced. Compared to the existing 12V system, it maximizes power efficiency to stably supply energy to various electronic devices in
Tesla Semi's 800km Range Set to Transform <b>Autonomous</b> Freight
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