Last fall, Walmart Canada placed 10 pre-orders for Tesla’s new Semi, the latter’s electric semi tractor-trailer, in an effort to lowering emissions. Today, Walmart Canada has announced it has placed orders for 30 additional Tesla Semi trucks, taking the future electric fleet to 40 18-wheeler semi-trucks.
According to Walmart Canada, this new electric fleet is one of the largest planned in the country and will assist in helping the retailer convert 20 per cent of their fleet to electric by 2022, while also focusing on driver safety.
Walmart says the first 20 Tesla Semis will be used in Mississauga, Ontario, with the other 20 set for the company’s newly announced fulfilment centre in Surrey, BC, set to open in 2022. The new Surrey fulfilment centre will have a fully electric fleet base, a first in the company’s history.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and lead the industry in the drive for sustainable change,” said John Bayliss, senior vice-president, logistics and supply chain, Walmart Canada, in a statement. “By converting 20 per cent of our fleet to electric vehicles by 2022 and committing to alternative power for all fleet vehicles by 2028, we are putting safety, innovation and sustainability at the forefront of our logistics network.”
The Tesla Semi has a range of 800 kilometres and can go from 0 to 100 km/hr in just five seconds on its own, and with a fully loaded trailer weighing 80,000 pounds (36,287 kg) in 20 seconds. When heading up 5 per cent grades, which typically are a struggle for traditional diesel semi trucks, the Tesla Semi can reach 104 km/hr, thanks to its four independent motors on its rear axles.
Walmart Canada says “The ability to travel 500 miles per charge is in line with Walmart Canada’s general fleet system, which consists mainly of single day round trips – allowing for the ability to convert from diesel at a faster pace.”
The Semi will also include Tesla’s Enhanced Autopilot as a standard feature, which will increase driver safety on the road, to go with Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Lane Keeping and Lane Departure Warning features.
Below is a video of some Tesla Semi trucks taking off from YouTube—listen to how quiet they are compared to your traditional diesel semi:
Other companies in Canada who have pre-ordered Tesla Semi trucks include Loblaw, which ordered 25 of the electric semi-trucks. Each Tesla Semi reservation requires a $5,000 deposit.
