Maker of Budweiser beer orders 40 Tesla Semi trucks

Maker of Budweiser beer orders 40 Tesla Semi trucks

Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser beer, has ordered a fleet of 40 electric-powered trucks from Tesla, Reuters reports. The Tesla Semi truck will help the brewer reduce fuel costs and vehicle emissions, it said yesterday. Revealed last month, production of the Semi will start in 2019, Tesla says.

“At Anheuser-Busch, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our supply chain more sustainable, efficient, and innovative. This investment in Tesla semi-trucks helps us achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact,” said James Sembrot, senior director of logistics strategy at Anheuser-Busch, the US subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, the world’s biggest brewer.

The company plans to use the Tesla Semi trucks for shipments to wholesalers within the 800 km range promised by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

According to Reuters, this is one of the largest publicly announced orders Tesla has received for its electric truck. A range of trucking, grocery, and retail companies have reserved at least 117 units of the Semi, including Anheuser-Busch’s 40, the news agency calculates. The actual figure could be higher because fleet operator J.B. Hunt Transport Services said it ordered some Semis without providing a specific number.

Maker of Budweiser beer orders 40 Tesla Semi trucks

Big companies that have also put in orders include Wal-Mart, Germany’s DHL, and Fortigo Freight Services Inc, one of Canada’s largest fleet management companies.

The Semi is powered by four independent electric motors on the rear axles, and will go from a rest to 96 km/h (0-60 mph) in just five seconds. Of course, this is without a trailer hitched to it, but Tesla says with a full 36,287 kg (80,000 pound) load, its truck will complete the sprint in 20 seconds. Tesla claims that this is three times faster than a regular diesel truck.

Tesla says that it will introduce Megachargers, a new high-speed DC charging system that is said to provide 644 km (400 miles) of range in just 30 minutes. These will be installed at strategic points and along heavily trafficked routes, enabling recharging during loading, unloading, and driver breaks.

The Palo Alto-based company, known for its Model S sedan, says the Semi is a more cost-efficient solution for fleet owners, with claimed fuel savings of more than US$200,000 over a million miles. The Semi, which will have Enhanced Autopilot, is claimed to consume less than 2 kWh of energy per mile, and is capable of 500 miles (800 km) of range at highway speed.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Volvo Trucks > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 3
    • Hoo-rah!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Bhagal Singh on Dec 08, 2017 at 6:49 pm

      We need more of these kind of trucks in Malaysia.

      Statistic show, most of the highway accidents are caused by our overloaded trucks. All struggling to move or climb bukit. At least with Tesla power, they can carry their load faster.

      Either we use Tesla power or tell PDRM to stop letting go overloaded lorries after taking duit kopi. Cause they cause too many accidents and deaths

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 6
      • Statistics showed slow moving trucks dun cause eksiden. Its fast movers that does.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
    • Incorrect. Ice cubes delivery truck drivers > all…Doesn’t matter which truck brand…LOL

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Ex-VGM staff on Dec 08, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    No engine oil change. No clutch problems. No gearbox problems. Or prop shaft. Zero fuel costs. Huge savings. Brilliant.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1
    • TeslaCincai on Dec 09, 2017 at 4:33 pm

      No diesel smoke! No CANCER!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Not convinced on Dec 10, 2017 at 6:17 am

      What they don’t tell you is the replacement cost of lithium ion batteries.. with such high mileage vehicles.. u’d be expending the 200000usd fuel savings over 1 million miles in less than half that distance… fact.. i worked on the tesla commercial powerewall systems

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Lorrydriversuck on Dec 09, 2017 at 12:49 am

    Any company in malaysia using this truck in the future? I wanna be the driver for sure.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • superdriver on Dec 09, 2017 at 5:11 pm

    The cockpit look so modern and chic like some simplistic and futuristic space ship. Looking at this, I don’t mind jadi lorry driver if the interior looks like a five star office space with martini bar.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 12yrsold on Dec 12, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Ha ha ha. Even a Beer company like Budweiser are going Green or in other words WISER by using electric-powered trucks.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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