Noteworthy Facts about Tesla’s Electric Trucks
The Tesla company, headed by Elon Musk, recently announced that it was working on rigs that can drive up to 500 miles on a single charge. Development is planned for 2019.
There are still a lot of concerns regarding liability for these types of trucks; after all, if one crashes, who is responsible – Tesla? The driver? The software itself? The laws aren’t clear, and until they are, there could be serious problems if a collision occurs. Still, there is a potentially high number of benefits to moving from diesel-based commercial vehicles to electric ones. According to Trucks.com, some of the many touted benefits of this new line of vehicles are:
- Truck speeds. Without any cargo, the Tesla rigs should be able to go from 0 to 60mph in five seconds. With an 80,000-pound load, the rigs should travel at 60 mph in 20 seconds, just a few seconds slower than traditional diesel-powered rigs.
- Ease of operation. The rigs, according to Musk, have only one gear, so there is no need to shift gears. The trucks should have little difficulty going up a five percent grade fully loaded.
- Battery use. The battery will be mounted underneath the cab. It will consist of industrial cells.
- Vehicle range. Trucks will be able to go between 300 miles and 500 miles on a single charge. This mileage use means trucks can be used for medium hauls and short hauls.
- Trucks will be charged at various megacharger stations that are solar-powered throughout the country.
- Safety equipment. An autopilot system will allow for the truck to use self-driving capabilities such as steering, changing lanes without input from the driver, handling on and off ramps, parking, and other features.
- Tesla trucks will be able to travel in packs to increase fuel efficiency.
Currently, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and Calstart have shown interest in these new Tesla trucks. There are still many questions about the materials used, battery specifications, truck safety, production site locations, and other issues. For example: will having batteries directly underneath the cab reduce or eliminate the chance of a fire in the case of a collision? And while the speeds may be impressive, what about braking? Being able to stop more quickly would be an excellent deterrent to potential chain-reaction crashes, but there is no discussion of whether or not the trucks will stop more quickly without an increased chance of tipping or jack-knifing.
Electric trucks create many opportunities for the trucking industry. However, the potential dangers to drivers, the driving public, and pedestrians are yet to be seen. The charges may fail. The driverless technology may lead to death or serious injuries. Electric trucks may be good for the environment, but we’re just not so sure they’re good for humanity, yet.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed due to product defect or driver error, our Chicago truck accident lawyers are ready to help. You can reach the lawyers at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, by calling us at 312-600-9585 or filling out our contact form to make an appointment. We represent clients on contingency fee basis.
Attorney Neal Gainsberg has spent the last 20+ years fighting to protect the rights of the injured in Chicago and throughout Illinois. For dedicated legal help with a personal injury, car accident, or wrongful death matter, contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers in Chicago for a free consultation.