Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) said it has developed a long-lasting battery for its Semi truck, targeting one of the biggest barriers to electric trucking: vehicle lifespan.
The battery is “designed to last a million miles,” Tesla Semi program lead Dan Priestley said Monday on the “Jay Leno’s Garage” podcast.
Priestley’s claim directly targets fleet economics. Long-haul truck operators typically plan vehicle lifecycles around 500,000 to 1 million miles, making battery degradation a central concern for adoption, according to Fleet Rabbit.
Tesla is positioning the Semi as an economic solution, emphasizing lower total cost of ownership and long-term operating savings, Priestley said.
Economics, Charging, and High Usage
“The economics are right. The product is ready,” Priestley told podcast host Jay Leno, pointing to long-term operating savings as a central selling point.
He added that the Semi is about 50% cheaper to operate per mile on energy costs in California, with a total cost of ownership nearly 20% lower nationally.
Priestley also highlighted charging performance as part of that equation, saying the Semi can charge at up to 1.2 megawatts, recovering roughly 60% of its battery in around 30 minutes.
That fast turnaround matters for fleets. Unlike passenger EVs, long-haul trucks run continuously, which can help preserve battery health by avoiding long periods at high charge levels, which Kelley Blue Booknotes can accelerate degradation.
Tesla has begun deploying Megacharger stations, with plans to expand the network to 64 locations by 2027, according to InsideEVs.
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Engineering and Efficiency
The battery pack is integrated into the chassis and paired with a dual-axle powertrain designed to balance performance and efficiency, according to EV news outlet Electrek.
Priestley said on the podcast that Tesla improved aerodynamic performance. “We’ve actually improved the Semi’s drag coefficient,” he said. “It’s a 7% improvement on the aero efficiency from before.”
Priestley said on the podcast Tesla improved the Semi’s aerodynamic performance, adding that it delivered “a 7% improvement on the aero efficiency from before.”
The Semi also shares key components with the Cybertruck, which could help Tesla scale production.
Beyond efficiency, Tesla is using the Semi’s electrical system to replace auxiliary diesel components.
“Why do we have an electric truck that is also pulling a diesel engine on the back of it? It doesn’t make sense,” Priestley added.
Instead, Tesla routes power directly from the truck to refrigerated trailers, removing the need for separate engines that add cost, noise, and emissions.
Production Ramp And Real-World Data
Tesla says its test fleet has already logged more than 13.5 million miles, with one truck nearing 440,000 miles. Priestley told Jay Leno that Tesla has seen a 95% uptime rate, with most service issues resolved within 24 hours.
While Tesla’s Nevada Semi factory targets an eventual capacity of 50,000 units annually, the program has faced repeated production delays since its original 2019 target, according to Electrek.
Despite the slow rollout, Priestley said that the company isn’t hurting for customers. “We have the factory standing up, but we have ample demand” he said on “Jay Leno’s Garage”.
