DHL orders 10 Tesla Semi electric trucks for use on shorter routes
DHL and Fortigo Freight put in their orders for new Tesla Semi electric trucks. Reuters photo by Alexandria Sage.
Fortigo Freight of Etobicoke, Ontario, ordered one Tesla Semi
Two more freight services companies have pre-ordered Tesla Semi electric trucks, which are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2019.
The companies join J.B. Hunt and Wal-Mart, who agreed to purchase the Tesla Semi which was unveiled by the company’s Chief Executive Elon Musk on Nov. 16.
DHL Supply Chain, a provider of transportation, warehousing and distribution services for US manufacturers and retailers ordered 10 trucks.
The company said in a statement that it will test the electric semi trucks in major US cities.
“The trucks will be used for shuttle runs and same-day customer deliveries, and will be tested for fuel efficiency on longer runs from major markets to other DHL operations across the country,” the company said.
Etobicoke, Ontario-based Fortigo Freight Services have put in an order for one of the trucks, according to Chief Executive Elias Demangos.
“We’ll be running it in a pilot program to ensure it meets our business objectives,” Demangos told Reuters in an e-mail.
The Tesla Semi has a range of about 500 miles between charges, which is about half the range between fill-ups for a diesel Class 8 truck. This limited range could add uncertainty to the electric truck market and the heavy batteries cut payload and hike costs to users.
But, Tesla, Daimler AG, Navistar International Corp. and its partner Volkswagen AG are investing in electric trucks now in anticipation of a market shift in the next decade.
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