Currently: The Tesla semi truck for Europe appears to be available only in a smaller version for now
Image: Tesla (Semi data from a British website)
Tesla plans to reveal details about the European version of the Semi, including technical specifications, at the IAA Transportation event in Hannover in about three weeks, as the company announced last week. However, some of this highly anticipated information may have already leaked: Tesla’s website for two European markets already contains details that partially match those of the smaller of the two Semi versions intended for the U.S.
Semi Information in the Netherlands and United Kingdom
According to CEO Elon Musk, mass production of the electric semi-truck is set to begin this year. In February, Tesla updated its U.S. website for the Semi and for the first time provided technical specifications in two versions, which differ mainly in weight and range: The Tesla Semi Long Range is expected to weigh 10.4 tons empty in the U.S. and travel 805 kilometers on a single battery charge. The Semi Standard Range is said to weigh less than 9.07 tons, with a range of 523 kilometers.
Attempts to obtain information about the Semi for Europe by switching the Tesla website to the German version have repeatedly resulted in “404” errors or redirects since the U.S. update. This was still the case on Monday as well. However, on some other European pages, Tesla seems to have already prepared for the market launch: both the website for the Netherlands and that for the United Kingdom displayed a Semi page with up-to-date content.
Only one version available on Tesla Europe
The Dutch and British versions appear identical in terms of images and text aside from the language; the American version is more detailed and focuses on different aspects in some areas. In all three cases, technical specifications are located far at the bottom of the page. For the U.S. version, users can choose between displaying the long-range or standard-range version. This option is not available in the Netherlands and the UK, where only the “Specificaties” or “Specs” for a semi are provided.
Upon closer inspection, it is evident that they bear a strong resemblance to the specifications for the smaller version in the US. Tesla lists an estimated range of 550 kilometers in both the Netherlands and the UK. This is close to the 523 kilometers (equivalent to 325 miles) cited in the US, and the difference may stem from varying standards for measuring fuel consumption. The European versions show a fuel consumption of 1 kilowatt hour per kilometer—slightly lower than in the US, but possibly for the same reason.
Europe’s Semi with 800 MW Charging Capacity?
The figures for the Semi’s curb weight are similar as well. According to Tesla in the Netherlands and the UK, it is 9.1 tons, which is roughly the same as the 9.07 tons (“
There are differences in the allowable total weight: In the US, both versions may weigh up to 37.2 tons, while the only version currently specified for Europe can weigh 40 tons. This could be explained by different standards similar to the difference in fuel consumption, as Tesla pushes each vehicle to its legally permitted maximum total weight for tractor-trailers. More surprising is the European specification of only 800 kilowatts for charging power. Tesla has stated that the US Semi can achieve up to 1.2 megawatts, as listed on its website, since the beginning of this year.
Tesla’s data from mid-September
It is unclear whether Tesla’s figures for the Netherlands and the UK actually provide an early glimpse of the Semi for Europe. In any case, given the similarity of most of the data to the standard-range version in the US, it does not seem to be mere placeholder information. Why these figures are so far only available on 2 of Tesla’s 30 country pages in Europe remains unclear as well. More clarity is likely to emerge by mid-September at the commercial vehicle IAA exhibition.