Tesla Semi can save over $400K vs diesel, but there are big ‘ifs’

With the Tesla Semi now rolling off the high-volume production line at a qupted price of $290,000 for the 500-mile version, we ran a full total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis against a comparable diesel Class 8 truck. At current diesel prices of $5.35 per gallon, the results are striking.

The Tesla Semi saves fleets between $147,000 and $404,000 over 5 to 10 years of ownership — but those savings hinge almost entirely on what operators pay for electricity and the price of diesel, which is spiking right now.

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