UPS has announced it has reserved 125 Tesla Semis, the new electric Class 8 truck that was recently unveiled by Elon Musk.
by Staff
December 19, 2017
UPS has placed the largest order so far for Tesla's upcoming electric truck.Photo: Tesla
2 min to read
UPS has placed the largest order so far for Tesla's upcoming electric truck. Photo: Tesla
UPS has announced it has reserved 125 Tesla Semis, the new electric Class 8 truck that was recently unveiled by Elon Musk.
This tops the recent 100-truck order announced by PepsiCo in November and represents the largest publicly known order for the electric truck yet.
Ad Loading...
The new tractors will join UPS’s alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet, comprised of trucks and tractors propelled by electricity, natural gas, propane, and other non-traditional fuels.
The first Tesla Semis are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2019, but UPS might not see all of its trucks right away as Tesla has a history of slowly ramping up production of its vehicles. The company only managed to produce 260 of its new Model 3 electric cars in the third quarter of this year. The Model 3 was announced in 2016 and was also initially sold through a reservation system.
The base model Tesla Semi is priced at $150,000 while a version with advertised 500-mile range begins at $180,000. It costs $20,000 to pre-order either model of Tesla Semi -- unless a buyer opts for the special edition Founders Series Tesla Semi, which costs $200,000 to reserve and buy.
Ad Loading...
“For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations," said Juan Perez, chief information and engineering officer. "We look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla. “These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.”
Westport and Volvo are demonstrating a 500-hp truck with diesel-like efficiency — one that also offers what Westport says is a better pathway to using hydrogen fuel in trucks.
Relying on diesel alone exposes fleets to fuel price volatility. Here’s why diversification with electric, natural gas, and renewable fuels can reduce risk.
Range Energy said its production-ready eTrailer system proved it can boost stability, safety, and efficiency in sub-zero winter conditions as the company moves toward scaled deployment.
Watch to learn how Deflecktor's new wheel cover design is taking a simpler approach to aerodynamics, with an eye toward making it more practical for both trucks and trailers.
Aerodynamic wheel covers can deliver small but meaningful fuel-economy gains for fleets, and Deflecktor says its latest design aims to make the technology easier and more affordable to deploy.
When diesel prices are as volatile as they've been in 2026, it makes it tough for trucking fleets to plan and control costs. Breakthrough Fuel's Jenny Vander Zanden has insights on near-term savings strategies.