In order that we can understand the specifications of the battery pack it is necessary to at first piece together the vehicle.
Warning: this page is going to have updates/amendments over time and some values are likely to be an estimate.
Specifications
- Dimensions
- width ~ 2.6m (not incl mirrors)
- height ~4m
- length
- Mass
- GVW = 82,000lbs (~37.2tonnes)
- ICE Tractor unit = 8 to 11 tonnes (average 9.5 tonnes)
- Tesla Semi ~ 12 tonnes (approximately +2500kg increase over an ICE Tractor Unit)
- GVW = 82,000lbs (~37.2tonnes)
A typical single tank semi can do circa 550miles and tanks hold up to 150 US gallons so using the density of the diesel we get to a liquid mass of circa 500kg plus tank and infrastructure ie pumps, tank, pipes, etc say 50kg so total 550kg would be a good estimate. The intake must be another 25kg and exhaust 75kg so all up circa 100kg with the power train we are looking at something in the region of 2400kg there will a number of miscellaneous items so a round 2500kg for ice components. This makes the battery only about an additional 1900kg, however, truck axles are heavy so we need to factor in three motors say 120kg each, inverters and a DC-DC. at ~100kg Looks like we might only be looking at an additional 2360kg. Round it up +2500kg, to be on safe side, for an EV semi in additional mass over an ICE tractor unit.
The EV Universe [6] give a good breakdown of the Tesla Semi.
The Tesla Semi images suggest that the battery has 9 large blocks of batteries, not all the same size.
- Performance
- 0 to 60mph = 20s at GVW
- Speed Up a 5% Grade = Highway speed limit
The 5% grade at 65mph (105km/h), at GVW, assuming a tyre rolling resistance coefficient of 0.0044, a motor+inverter efficiency of 94% (assuming this peak has been set for the highway cruise) and a gearbox efficiency of 0.97 give a requirement of 698kW of electrical power.
This post has been built based on the sponsorship of: h.e.l group and LiTech Power
- Cd = 0.36
- CdA ~ 3.74m2
- Energy Consumption = 1.7kWh/mile [5]
- 1.06kWh/km [4]
Road Vehicle Power Demand
A simple online calculator that allows you to estimate the vehicle power demand. Change any of these and see the effect: Cd, mass, speed, gradient and hotel loads.
- Range
- 300mile and 500mile versions
- System Voltage = 1000V
- Motors
- 3 independent motors on rear axles
- two electric motors for acceleration at the rear axle (with automatic disengage)
- one electric motor for highway driving at the second axle (constantly engaged)
- carbon-sleeved rotors (technology first deployed in the Plaid)
- 3 independent motors on rear axles
- Inverters
- Battery
- Total capacity ~ 850kWh
- Pack Volume ~3000litres
- Mass ~4400kg
- Charging [2]
- Peak power 1MW
- 70% range added in 30 minutes
- Charge Port V4
- Liquid Cooled
- up to 35A/mm2
References
- Tesla Semi, Tesla.com
- Tesla Semi Will Charge At 1+ MW Using New V4 Charging Cable, InsideEVs
- Close-up look at the Tesla Semi “Megacharger” charging port, Teslarati
- Tesla Semi vs H2 Fuel Cell, Michael Sura, LinkedIn
- Elon Musk: Tesla Semi Efficiency Is 1.7 kWh/mile, InsideEVs
- Tesla Semi, a deep dive, The EV Universe
This post has been built based on the sponsorship of: h.e.l group and LiTech Power
Battery Pack Mass Estimation
A totally free to use online battery pack estimator, underpinned by our benchmark data.