Tesla has confirmed its Semi electric truck is finally coming to Europe, with customer deliveries due to start in 2027 and a claimed range of 342 miles.
The European version of the Tesla Semi has been revealed at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, where it will be on display until 20 September. And while we’ll have to wait until next year to see it hauling loads around European roads, Tesla has now released the first key figures for the truck we’ll get here.
Top of the list is that 342-mile maximum claimed range, which puts the Semi ahead of the new BYD electric truck revealed recently and gives Tesla a figure that should make it usable for more than just shorter delivery routes.
Keeping a big electric truck moving takes a lot of energy, of course, and Tesla estimates consumption at around 0.62 miles/kWh. It says its Semi has been designed for everything from regional distribution work to longer journeys, with rapid charging intended to fit into the sort of stops truck drivers would normally be making anyway.
That’s where Tesla’s Megacharging system comes in. The Semi can charge at up to 800kW and Tesla says it can recover 60 per cent of its range in 30 minutes. Based on that 342-mile maximum range, that works out at just over 205 miles added during a half-hour stop.
Tesla is also planning a dedicated Megacharger network for the Semi, although details of how extensive that network will be in Europe haven’t yet been announced. As with electric cars, access to reliable high-speed charging is going to be an important part of making electric trucks work for fleets covering big mileages every day.
Power comes from three independent electric motors driving the rear axles, with Tesla quoting total drive power of 1,073bhp. The European Semi weighs less than 9,100kg before its load is added and has a gross combination weight of 40 tonnes. There’s also an electric power take-off system rated at up to 25kW, which can be used to power equipment fitted to or used with the truck.
Tesla is making plenty of noise about the potential savings for operators, too. It says electricity can cost less per mile than diesel in many situations, while an electric truck has fewer moving parts and does without the exhaust treatment systems found on diesel models.
The Semi will also use remote diagnostics and over-the-air software updates, allowing Tesla to check some problems remotely and update the truck’s software without it having to visit a workshop.
Tesla says the combination should mean lower maintenance costs and more time on the road, although exactly how the sums stack up for European operators will depend on the purchase price, electricity costs and the type of work each truck is doing. Tesla hasn’t yet announced European pricing, while the final configuration and European approval.
However, after years of Tesla Semi being a largely American story, Europe is now firmly on its road map with the first customer trucks scheduled to arrive next year.
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