Tesla's new electric semi truck is built to survive a nuclear Armageddon


Elon Musk announced the fully electric Tesla Semi on Thursday night. The truck can haul 80,000 pounds and travel 500 miles on a single charge, as well as accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just five seconds with an empty trailer, Wired reports. It also boasts "nuclear explosion-proof glass" because you never know.
Tesla has thought of just about everything for the cab, too. "[T]he driver's seat is now in the middle of the cab," writes Wired. "Because it didn't need to build around a bulky diesel engine, Tesla made the nose of the cab a vertical slab, and the main seat is so far forward, you can see the ground just in front of the vehicle. In a design touch that recognizes that truckers are human beings, there are overhead bins for storing stuff, and at least four cup holders." Two touchscreens allow the driver to navigate and monitor blind spots, and the vehicle is covered in cameras that assist with self-driving on freeways.
Musk said that on 100-mile routes, the Semi will cost truckers $1.26 a mile, compared to $1.51 for today's diesel trucks. Still, "500 miles is still far less than diesel trucks can travel," CNN writes. "And diesel fuel tanks can be refilled much more quickly than batteries can be recharged." Walmart, for one, is excited about the promise of electric trucks and preordered 15, which are expected to go into production in 2019, CNBC reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Learn more about the Armageddon-proof truck — adorably referred to as a "lorry" by Britain's ITV News — below. Jeva Lange
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores