European Driver REACTS to Tesla Semi | 'UNSUITABLE' for Europe

I recently corresponded with a European Semi Truck driver who made it clear that the Tesla Semi in its current form is unsuitable for the European market. In this video l share a few of the issues that this driver pointed out and discuss some of the changes that will likely need to be made before the Tesla Semi is ready for the European market.
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NOTE: The content found in this video should NOT be regarded as financial advice. I am not a financial advisor, and this is NOT in any way a recommendation or offer to buy or sell securities. While the information in this video is believed to be accurate at the time of recording, no guarantees are being made about the accuracy of the information presented in the video. As of the recording of this video, I am NOT invested in Tesla stock or securities, nor any other company mentioned in this video.

[@Xanthopteryx]

One problem with length in Europe BTW is that the roads here tends to be smaller. There is not room enough for maneuvering the trucks if they are too long.

[@rubberducky1707]

I drive a semi every day you are comparing Day cab semi's, sleeper truck semi's and European trucks. They all have very different purposes and uses.

[@kurosumomo]

Tesla has a day cab semi, the discussion is Europe vs USA, and in Europe the tesla semi (with a day cab) wont work either.

[@cageordie]

They are actually comparing a day cab Tesla to a sleeper EU truck. The EU truck sleepers aren't as long but they are taller. So the bed is a bunk above the back of the seats instead of a room behind the driving area.

[@AndrewSienx]

The elephant in the room: European trucks have only 1 rear axle. So, the 3-motor setup is gone.

[@DAM89]

European trucks are speed limited to 56mph (90kmh) but can carry more weight. 44 Metric Tons (88,000LBs). The low speeds mean that a flatter cab over design isn’t as inefficient as it may seem.

[@sambailey8369]

You are right about the length and Maximising capacity to make money however due to the cost saving of this truck it would be possible to offset that

[@mannygee005]

this version of the semi is the long range version and appears longer than the original design. You have to think about the "made up" criticism from the industry. The misleading request or complaint was for longer range. The semi wasn't designed in a vacuum, it was made to requested specs.

[@tomporter8849]

Perhaps here in Europe we should relax the regs on truck length, especially for trucks that don't travel through confined areas. For example if you're carrying cargo between two depots, both adjacent to motorways.

[@RB-pi3jl]

Thought provoking video, but I simply refuse to believe that Tesla has not fully considered the European market for Semi. Based on the comments below, yes there are some accommodations needed (just as in the North American market - i.e. extra weight exemption, cameras in place of mirrors, & future autonomous driving, etc.), but as pointed out, the advantages of EV trucking will gain cooperation from countries internationally.

[@mullerszable]

It will have to be shortened, changing regulations is simple but changing the whole of the road infrastructure is not. I’m a semi driver in the Uk and lots of road’s junctions, roundabout, yards etc are extremely tight as it is. It would be impossible if the cab was even a 2 feet longer. You’d be taking out traffic lights, street signed and lampposts all day long.

[@Hadookyn]

Jon, great work as always on the in depth video. Please allow me to posit this question, if you are a company that owns four semi trucks that are diesel with the European set up, wouldn’t it just make more sense to keep the same exact Tesla semi with a shorter trailer and buy five for the lower towing capacity? It would still especially pay for itself in a very short time, even with having to buy an extra truck and shorter storage trailers which are only around $24k-ish each. Tesla could even start making the trailers themselves and selling them at a significant discount compared to the competition. Just food for thought, keep up the great work!

[@pan6593]

You try to fight the logic that logistics always want to squeeze as much freight into one trailer as potentially possible. Not that they‘d always do it, but that’s the goal. I doubt an electric truck eliminates that.

[@bannor99]

Tesla Semi development was led by Jerome Guillen who's an engineer with a lot of heavy trucking experience including for Freightliner in Germany. Tesla must already have a modified design & it'll be at least a few years before they're ready to sell Semis abroad.

[@ashleymoore9063]

German manufacturing is actually completed in Poland Hungary and all surrounding countries but not in Germany due to their enormous energy costs union regulations and a high wage cost. When Elon had an opportunity to build his gigafactory anywhere in Europe He chose the most expensive country to do so that was a horrendous mistake. Of course he was welcomed with open arms by everybody including Mercedes and Volkswagen because they knew that setting up new manufacturing in Germany was a terrible idea.

[@tygorton]

Has Tesla officially stated the actual payload capacity of the truck yet? I've seen channels jumping through crazy hoops to estimate the payload, but it's all just speculation based on the word of Musk/Tesla and some images.

[@vuckohfc5841]

they tested the truck,truck from the video with 11 jersey bariers,guys that buy those say that they are about 4400-4560 pounds each so about 2 tones x11 = 22 tones or 48000 lbs.

[@tygorton]

@@vuckohfc5841 All you had to say was "No." For some reason, Tesla has not officially provided payload capacity information for their semi truck. Seems like an odd omission if it's something they are proud of.

[@kurosumomo]

@@tygorton They didn't give any specifics for the tractor, weight, power etc. nothing.

[@DaveNukem]

european roads are often very small its quite normal to see a trucker hit a road sign

[@royh6526]

I read somewhere that the European laws have changed to be more like here with longer cabs allowed with the same length trailers. Trailer length not overall length is now the determining factor. This mostly driven by the desire for more streamlined trucks and that cannot happen with the current regulations.

[@williamwoo866]

I would design and expandable front end during travel and retract when truck reach location,

[@bearlemley]

They will have to accept a higher drag coefficient ?

[@cryptocoinkiwi8272]

Pretty sure Tesla is aware of the regulations in Europe...

[@iowa_don]

3:20 - That was the case in the US also until the change of trailer length laws in 1976. Prior to 1976, the maximum truck length was 65 feet. After 1976 it was changed to 75 feet. The extra 10 feet allowed operators to switch to modern cab styles. They didn’t have to worry about sacrificing trailer space for a longer wheelbase and a smoother ride. Cab-overs are also notorious for being uncomfortable. The cabs are small and cramped and because they’re above the engine bay, they can be loud and hot. Sleeper berths were also normally smaller than sleepers on conventional trucks.

[@XtrAMassivE]

European roads are super narrow and many times even the cabover trucks have a real difficulty getting through the tight places. With the Tesla semi you would be screwed.

[@faramarzmokri9136]

When European regulated the Semis dimensions EV didn’t exist. European regulators will revisit the requirement for Semis as this new technology makes a foot in commercial market. Tesla will if it already has not will lobby the European regulators specifically Germans as they need that as MB will also soon will enter the BESemis market.

[@psdaengr911]

Flattening the Tesla Semi would require non-trivial engineering. Half the indicated cab volume would be batteries and it would need to lose an axle.

[@lesbendo6363]

I think Tesla has enough potential customers in the USA for the next 5 years. They we can talk about Europe. 🇨🇦

[@LodewijkVrije]

i don't see why you would buy a tesla truck in Europe. DAF, Scania, Volvo, Mercedes offer electric trucks already. even in the USA nearly half of electric trucks registered in 2022 were Volvo's. in many ways, i think the way Tesla has done things is very weird for several reasons. 1. it would have probably been smarter to launch the Tesla semi in Europe first due to drive time regulations. 4,5 hours of continuous driving means having a 45 minute rest stop, so the 500 mile range makes allot more sense here. especially if you can recharge a significant chunk of battery in the 45 minutes you are stopped at a rest stop. 2. it would have been smarter to go the route of European truck manufactures, instead of jumping in and trying to introduce a long haul truck. they should have come at it from the other end of the trucking industry, garbage trucks, tow trucks, dump trucks, small distribution box trucks specialized vehicles such a street sweepers, salt sprayers and harbor "terminal" tractors. none of those have to go far, and would have helped tesla gather important data and eventual long haul truck design based on feedback from users of their smaller trucks.

[@texforister7023]

They're not "Semi Trucks," they're tractors. They don't "truck" anything! 🔦✝

[@chrisduggan2443]

Change is not easily accepted. Mirrors instead of camera's? We move forward. Remember when folks insisted on key pad buttons and held on to their BlackBerry instead of moving torwards the touchscreen of smartphones.

[@DAM89]

It will be years before Tesla supply trucks to Europe. Cyber trucks may never arrive in Europe. A Tesla van will likely be available before Semi Trucks arrive.

[@jasongooden917]

Tesla could do it by removing the rear axel and the extra space behind the seat in the cab. Also give the seat the ability to slide to the sides so the driver can look out the window to back up. The semi will be Euro spec after that

[@robbaker5018]

TSLA has many years to satisfy US demand. Many years of growth ahead.

[@alunchurcher7060]

We haven't eve organised the fire brigades to put electric cans out when on fire without having massive trucks electric. Then their is the explosion problem especially with electric vehicles which occurs all to often when on fire.

[@pvdhoff]

The question I have with the Semi is how you can operate the toll booths or buttons to open gates. Normally you roll down your window and get a card or push the button. From the seat you can't do that and I did not yet see if the window of the semi rolls down.

[@tygorton]

It doesn't... the side windows are pop-out design. It is definitely an issue.

[@pvdhoff]

@@tygorton yes that’s what I thought. Sometimes the space is so narrow that you also can’t open your door.

[@boostav]

@@pvdhoff They should have designed the door to open somewhat like a minivan.

[@bobbysenterprises3220]

All this estimating. It would be easier if they just actually released the dimensions. Weight. And empty trailer weight.

[@GahMehGrrrr]

the cargo capacity is already only perhaps half of a Real truck.

[@jamesengland7461]

Real truck?

[@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck]

EU rules? Irrelevant. Current TeSemi is designed for North America. Tesla will not have capacity to satisfy NA demand for a decade. When Tesla has the time, they will design one for the EU market and build it in Spain.

[@edwinskwok]

Why don’t just cut the back? Looks like the European semi don’t have second row

[@stop_lying_bro]

The driver who made these statements I feel like just wanted to talk but didn't properly inform them selves completely. Length laws have been updated and the new DAF XG+ is the first to implement some. Length depends on the country you're in as in Sweden, some parts of Germany, and more counties, long combination of 24 Meter rigs are a thing. Also to add, electric trucks so far have been granted special permission to be longer and even 2 tons heavier. A few companies here actually use American trucks because they are within length due to their type of freight like tankers, tippers and so on. On regards to the no camera comment, is total BS. Again, the New DAF replaces all mirrors with Cameras and in many situations the Cameras turned out to be better than conventional Mirrors. Electric trucks have been on the road for years in Switzerland built by a swiss company and they have seemed to get it right so I don't see how Tesla couldn't. I mean, it's pretty clear that if they enter the EU Market they are going to conform

[@michaeldemetriou1399]

Who cares, so long as they look "Bad Ass" and can go from 0-60 in 20 seconds really that is the most important thing with trucking.

[@MrPabloInUSA]

CRAZY thought here but what if by the time Tesla is finished ramping US semi production and is ready to design a new semi for other markets, FSD is fully baked and allows Tesla to launch a cabless (ie., driverless) semi design eliminating space needed for a driver but maintaining most of the bullet shape needed for aerodynamics.

[@jamendetvarjukul]

Already exists. Einride

[@rodden1953]

UK trucks drive in the EU so it dont matter where the driver sits

[@ai4px]

It was not designed for the EU market.

[@user-to2rf1rj5v]

I'm not sure who thought this was being made for the EU. It isn't.

[@ourv9603]

I'll be willing to bet TESLA will make it suitable. !

[@brianwest7344]

not all countries need the range US drivers do.

[@arguanmodeth]

Making a shorter cab for the European market isn't that hard. Especially if Tesla can delete the driver compartment altogether.

[@ReachOutToWilliam]

Had to bail after only 1 minute, due to the lies about the Tesla Semi superiority over other electric trucks. Simply not true.

[@eliasshedd]

Imagine basing an entire position on the opinion of one truck driver. I have a 4-year college degree and a CDL. I drive trucks for a living too. This video spends very few seconds on fax and he's almost entirely opinion.

[@triage2962]

You can only use the tesla truck on short range or fixed destinations with a hotel in the US. So the use is really limitet.

[@stanspb763]

It was designed for that short haul distribution market that many many fleets were begging for. They will sell all they can make. Drivers in these cases sleep in their own beds every night.

[@karelboshoff8081]

Europe just need to change their rules

[@robertclaessens3676]

Tesla will figure this out !

[@DoomieMcDoom]

I learned in this video that the European market is dumb in the first place to ban aerodynamic truck designs. stooooooopid

[@kbouwman64]

I don't drive a semi but have pulled long service and delivery trailers for over three decades which I backup to customer livestock barns many times per day. My newest truck, a 2021 long wheelbase Ford F250 has good mirrors and many cameras. It also supports having a camera on the rear of the trailer. I have found that I never turn my head and look out the drivers window to backup. I rely entirely on the mirrors and camera. I back the trailer around both left and right corners equally without any problems. I say all of this because I believe that if the camera system on the Tesla semi is any good at all, drivers will adapt very quickly and not be bothered in the least by the center driving position. Look at farm tractors, combines, and most other farm implements...they all use the center seating position and always have. They are made for towing and backing some of the largest equipment and farmers have backed that equipment into tight spaces regularly long before cameras were ever put on vehicles.

[@bbcooter388]

Good points, I drive a large 5th wheel RV and I never look out my window to back up, I always use my mirrors.

[@Alarix246]

I would be thinking the same, but not being a truck driver, it needed you two to confirm. That's funny, how just two comments nicely uprooted CleanerWatts' worries.

[@tygorton]

What about paperwork and tolls? It's my understanding that truckers often pass things through the window. That's not going to work with Tesla semi because 1. the center seat position and 2. the side windows only pop out, they don't fully open. This is going to be a daily frustration on the job.

[@jackylsmith8138]

I believe they are not referring to backing up straight, but backing and turning 90 degrees into a loading dock or parking spot at a truck stop. North American trailers can be 53’ long. I’m not sure the camera will properly catch this.

[@JJSmith1100]

I do not drive a semi but I do drive a large bus. I never look out the window, I exclusively use my mirrors, so a center position will suit me better, because then I am closer to the passenger side mirror and only slightly further from the driver side mirror.

[@cbromley562]

I was a truck driver in the UK. Semi/articulated trucks are big…there’s no getting away from it. Although our trucks are, in the main, cabover, they’re still a significant presence in tight situations. For example, there is as pointed out a ‘blind side’ and a near side. And as pointed out, the nearside allows much greater vision when reversing. However, many delivery situations require reversing (often in busy mains street with lashing rain) on the ‘blind side’. There’s no alternative but to learn how to do this. As to overall vision, there are two large screens in the Tesla, with permanent camera views front, side and rear. Don’t be fooled that because a cabover tractor unit has a flat face, the driver can see everything. In busy city traffic for example, people, cyclists, mothers with prams come from all directions…your eyes are all over the place. There are myriad blind spots. The Tesla Semi will have these on camera, and will be beeping at you like crazy. The coloured ‘worm-like’ graphics around the image of the cab on screen will also alert and inform the driver. I’d imagine regulations will morph to accommodate the extra length of the Semi’s cab…we’ve had changes to trailer length and load capacity in the past. Tesla will have thought about, and be thinking/lobbying on regulatory matters. And I’m certain electric cabover designs from Mercedes, Volvo, Scania etc, will also be part of a company’s quiver for relevant use cases. If the Semi and other electric transportation become the compelling, obvious choice, they’ll be accommodated I believe. It’s just the way things go. Overall, the Semi design will suit fast, steady long distance cruising, and be manageable in the odd tight areas, in the hands of a professional driver.

[@anydaynow01]

Agreed on the morphing of regulations to allow PHEV and EV trucks, for example right now the gross weight has been bumped up for them to accommodate the battery weight so shippers won't have to restrict their cargo to haul batteries back and forth.

[@drayke8886]

I guess they will change the regulations but they are here for a reason: many tight spaces, corners or roundabouts. You are from UK so you should know how small they can be. It's funny for me that truck that should be focusing on short distances is pushed so hard for long journeys. Just make smaller cab and be done with it. Also Tesla could give us some info about semi (like weight) because it doesn't look good

[@cbromley562]

@@drayke8886 That’s good, fair comment. We’re viewing the Semi in the context of it being new, untried and untested in the ‘real world’. That it can do 500 miles in favourable circumstances is optimistic to me. This ability, alongside its power, bodes well for when a comprehensive charging infrastructure is in place. It’ll just keep going.

[@fluitfluiten]

The EU already amended the length requirements "for aerodynamic features, like a rounded nose"

[@cbromley562]

@Jay Talents You’re addressing the people who buy/eat/drink their products?

[@thomastercheck2968]

I Would like to hear what the Pepsico drivers think of the Tesla trucks. Same from the drivers that Tesla employs. I would think that the drivers that have helped test the trucks would give feedback and have their issues addressed. I am pretty sure that Tesla is aware of the various trucking regulations in the different markets around the world and have plans for the changes needed when the time comes to enter those markets.

[@tygorton]

If Tesla's semi was a hit with drivers, we'd have heard from those drivers already; Musk and Tesla would lead with truckers raving about their product. My guess: the drivers signed a hardcore non-disclosure agreement. Nobody is talking. Not a good sign.

[@tsamuel6224]

@@tygorton People working with a NDA not talking just means they like their money. Since we never hear a peep it is a good guess every car maker hires their test drivers under a NDA. Their likes & dislikes are fully proprietary property that belongs to their employer.

[@naamon4788]

Great, articulate measured observations and response!! Thank you!

[@tsamuel6224]

YES!!! I Would like to hear what the Pepsico drivers think of the Tesla trucks. I don't expect them to have a NDA. Tesla employees might just be paid shills and/or have a NDA so I'm not interested. And the most important report will come from Pepsico's comparative annual cost analysis. Cost savings are what will sell semis. These drivers have to relearn a new maintenance schedule, relearn parking & relearn driving city streets, so I think they'll wait to start talking until they know they know the truck.

[@JJSmith1100]

I think it is a bit to soon to hear from them. I heard somewhere that the company will only start using the trucks in the new year and then there is only 4 trucks so far and not all truckers are KZbinrs. As far as Europe goes, I think Tesla will first get production up to speed in the USA before commiting to Europe as well. Then again with the size of European trucks maybe Tesla will just sent them the Cyber Truck with a hitch for the semi trailor ;)

[@vwasson6725]

LMAO Tesla didn't build the Semi for the EU market. His target market atm is the NA market. When Tesla does design a Semi for the EU market, it will comply with their policies and standards. You'd have to compare the Tesla Semi (day cab) to a conventional North American day cab truck. Comparing it to the Semi's with sleeper is apples/oranges.

[@jasongooden917]

I think a lot of these drivers have the problem of being too old school.. I used to be a Forklift driver and we all said weird stuff like this when our company started bringing in electric forklifts with only 2 pedals. Before you know it, people were fighting over the electric ones because of all the advantages it had. They would go as far as to hide it in a trailer and close the bay doors on their breaks.. 😂

[@alanmay7929]

Nonsense!!!! There is nothing old school here! It’s all about choice and pack up choices! Your eyes are the most precise instruments you can use, the cameras are only to help you and there are tons of situations where cameras won’t help if they even work.

[@alanmay7929]

On a forklift or car which is significantly smaller it’s not a problem but a large truck is another level. Not to mention all the very precise control they have to do to park and cameras doesn’t give a dept of field

[@TecnamTwin]

@@alanmay7929 Don't need depth of field when a precise distance measurement is available to aid the driver.

[@eliasshedd]

This video does present food for thought but is basically useless. It proposes that a single truck driver can correctly assess the needs of every trucking company in europe. Every truck driver I've ever known makes claims about how ridiculous new technology in trucks is. Every coworker I've had complained about the technology for the first year to they were using it. They complained that the accelerator pedal was just a potentiometer with a wheel on it. They complained about the 72 mph speed limiter. They even complained anti-lock brakes were installed in semi trucks. I love truck drivers, I am a truck driver but we are not as a group good at predicting what technology will be used or where it will be used. In fact we are almost 100% wrong.

[@johnpayne8223]

The dimensions of the two different styles of truck are definitely different. Also the legal capacity of the axles is considerately higher in Europe and require heavier axles, wheels, tires, brakes etc. The frames are heavier than those in the US to meet the loading requirements. Most EU trucks have one drive axle. and in the cases where they employ a tandem rear axle they only have one driven axle. Traction requirements in N America require the use of two driven axles. (This is historical). The trailers also can have different fifth wheel positions that require additional length behind the cab to fit. These are examples of the many major major design differences that need to be addressed. I don't think you can adjust the Tesla to meet EU requirements, It will have to be a new vehicle.

[@alanmay7929]

And in Scandinavia they even have much bigger loads up to 90 tons…..

[@ScoundrelzNTwK]

Euro trucks also have on average about 200hp more, 670-770 is the average there I think. So, with a single axel needing more power they would likely need a different electric motor.

[@isaksidenius7059]

I disagree, with a design change moving the motor further front end i a plausibe option. Tesla engineers Are the best there is so i deem it quite likely they will Come with a design change in 2 years time. Also the rules Are being changed right now Even here in scandanavia.

[@alanmay7929]

@@isaksidenius7059 bullshit!!! Which best engineers!? Truck comes in all kinds of configurations possible going up to 8x8 and more, no regulations are changing.

[@alanmay7929]

@@isaksidenius7059 the truck has to be less aerodynamic to be able to actually suit european usage. No American style truck have a chance in europe

[@GeeKayKayGee]

I expect that European Regulations regarding total length will be amended so as to accommodate the longer, more aerodynamic design of the Tesla. Why? Because the EU and member countries are pushing hard to get off of fossil fuels and will not let a technicality prevent the best Electric Semi helping to achieve their targets. Just as they have made an allowance to accommodate the heavier weight of Electric Semis, they will do the same for length. As to real truckers (which I am not) questioning the viewing angles and blind spots inherent in the Tesla design I believe that once they drive it, they will find that the provided suite of cameras, ultrasonics and perhaps radar are better than the conventional mirror setups. As removing mirrors provides a great improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, Tesla will find ways to do so, while improving the operability of the truck.

[@DuesenbergJ]

A couple of years ago European truck cabins was allowed to be 90 cm longer to make them more aerodynamic. It was expected that it will save 10% of fuel. Haven’t seen a longer truck in production yet but they will look closer to a Tesla Semi.

[@audience2]

Good, as the other way of addressing this is to update the regulations for situations where a longer cab is not a disadvantage.

[@pierre.a.larsen]

That is nearly three feet and should help with limiting the scope of redesign for the European markets.

[@alanmay7929]

@@audience2 lol…. It will actually reduce the payload of their trailers which isn’t good at all! And European trucks already hauls way more than American trucks, just look in Sweden they have up to 90 tons trucks there even in Finland….

[@alanmay7929]

@@pierre.a.larsen nope

[@TecnamTwin]

@@alanmay7929 Not if properly designed. Being larger does not necessitate being heavier, especially with artificial limits in place.

[@andresouza2314]

Tesla Semi is designed by Americans for Americans... Just like that.

[@danielecolombo8702]

May Be you can add another market Australia and with a center driver you sell the same version !!

[@davidelliott5843]

Tesla has limited production capacity. They can’t service EU and USA. However I would love them to come to UK and especially South West England. We have the skills and the work ethic often lacking elsewhere in the country. We are the perfect place to “Euro” the Semi. No German BS and we are gradually squeezing away from EU micromanaging. UK the country is a perfect place for Tesla Semi. Almost no route is over 500 miles. Most are half of that.

[@davidelliott5843]

The overlay at 7:11 is misleading because the back end is aligned with the traditional US back end. It should be aligned with the Tesla which is considerably shorter front and back.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

And Kanada and Mexiko.

[@danielecolombo8702]

In USA the regulation Is about the lenght of the trailer , in Europe the measure Is the Total lenght , for this reason we have cabover , less aerodinamic

[@tdimedio]

I have always had a vision of parking and hooking up the trailer while standing on the outside of the semi controlling the semi movements with a smartphone. I do a lot of daydreaming.

[@user-pq4by2rq9y]

for real though, auto-parking is pretty much a possibility, much easier to implement than full self driving.

[@Aerostealth]

You are just wrong about the aerodynamics. In the first place, you can not specify the Cd of a truck like this without specifying the trailer. Blunt shapes are fine for trucks as the primary metric is frontal area and wake area, not how bullet shaped the truck cab looks as long as the corners are rounded. Your aerodynamic speculations are just wrong here.

[@SizeMichael]

EU regulators allow an extra 90cm of tractor length if it's used to improve aerodynamic efficiency. I don't know about fitting in the yards, but the standard trailers are not an issue. This updated regulation has been in effect for over 2 years now, pretty disappointing to keep hearing the same FUD

[@TheNewAccount2008]

Two points to add here: 1) The EU is currently discussing a change in the regulation, as it has been pointed out that the more aerodynamically shaped trucks (like the Tesli Semi) need by far less fuel. (And that is a big topic over here right now...) So maybe the landscape will change. And 2) I know a lot of short range drivers in Europe who told me that they are completely transitioning to camera vision for backing up and parking already, so I doubt that they will have much problem with the Tesla setup, except maybe for the screen placement.

[@alanmay7929]

Nope! Wrong!!! Also the tesla semi will still be longer and much difficult to park!

[@alanmay7929]

European cab over turns almost like on a dime and a slightly longer one won’t be as good unless they modify their roads

[@TheNewAccount2008]

@@alanmay7929 I never said that the cab over design doesn't have advantages. I just said that there is a regulation in discussion that could get rid of the length issue (which caused the design in the first place), and that there are many drivers who use cameras already today.

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

Many Euro trucks have done away with mirrors altogether, its all going to cameras. The drivers I've spoken to said they would never go back to mirrors, having to deal with rain, fogging up, or losing them in hedgerows is becoming a thing of the past. They've said its odd to start out with but you quickly get used to looking at cameras instead.

[@Chimel31]

1) Part of that discussion already happened, European cabs are allowed to be a little longer for better aerodynamics. It's just that manufacturers haven't built a single such cab yet, either because the current design works fine, or there is no demand for longer cabs. But this will be critical for electric trucks, so I hope more changes will happen, on the maximum gross weight allowance too, because 44 tonnes is kinda becoming the norm over 40 tonnes (and it's even much more for Scandinavian countries). Not sure however how or if a larger GWA can properly compensate for a longer cab, as either it's bad for the road surfacing or you need a extra axle or some other costly solution

[@tsamuel6224]

You don't need to be an engineer to know shortening the wheel base shortens the frame and that means the batteries side by side have to be stacked over each other instead. Tesla could literally lower the aerodynamic drag by making the cab longer but extra weight is what they got rid of by shortening the cab. The blunt nose for Europe will have more aerodynamic drag but weigh less. I have heard we DO regulate the length of the second trailer on double bottom rigs. Long trailers with a sleeper cab are the best way to move a lot of stuff 1K miles without rail. And I've seen truckers back up at supersonic speed to loading docks, tap the brakes twice, and touch the loading dock like a feather. Doing the same with the seat someplace different is a gamble that might be a bad bet that remains to be seen. Tesla will need to make several truck styles, big vans & blunt nose semis for large deliveries in alleys, as well as long & short vans. This semi is designed for the US.

[@Kenlwallace]

No rush to get semi’s to Europe! It will take Tesla years to ramp up qty just for USA and dozens of other countries where the existing design is fine.

[@jameshoffman552]

Title is very misleading, given that EU guidelines for Semis effectively endorse Tesla Semi's aerodynamic shape.

[@martincday007]

I get the feeling that the centre driver's position was something that was done without much input from professional drivers. Often drivers are having to provide documentation to enter, leave secure areas, so having to get out of the seat at each kiosk could get tedious very quickly.

[@TecnamTwin]

Or could quickly become preferred. People will always find little reasons to dislike different. They just hate change.

[@martincday007]

@@TecnamTwin There is change for change sake and there is change because it makes sense. What may make sense aesthetic to a designer may not make any practical sense to a professional driver.

[@jamendetvarjukul]

@@TecnamTwin how is not being able to pass papers or pay toll through a rolled down window an improvement? Or increasing the distance to the window so you can't hear what they're saying a better design? Please enlighten us!

[@KingBravo-lo3vc]

The very day you published this the EU passed a law mandating that new trucks have the long aerodynamic front ends like the Tesla.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Looks as if the Tesla Semi is designed around the classic US Semi shape in terms of the aerodynamic design that is possible within that footprint and the battery storage space available. I imagine Tesla designers could produce a "Europeanised" version of the truck but it will involve quite a lot of work and may be optimised for shorter range.

[@jorgemach___2162]

Tesla can't make enough of them for the US alone

[@satoshimanabe2493]

It would make more sense to manufacture vehicles for Europe in a factory in Europe. But only after US production is stable. Troubleshooting/optimization takes a lot of effort, so it would be best if that doesn't happen concurrently on both versions.

[@wineberryred]

Please refer to the part that Tesla makes as the Tractor, thus referred to as tractor trailer for the entire semi.

[@ralphmalph6097]

Long nose trucks are more fun to drive than cab over design 😮

[@MrJFuk]

Think the biggest bad thing is the center driving position. How do I see what's coming towards me so I can overtake. In the UK we need to be on the right and in the EU on the left. Just so we can see past parked lorries and caravans.. It'll work on the motorways. But not a chance in a town or city.

[@Michael_Brock]

Yeah right. Though EU has a 40 ton limit on semis vehicle and cargo. Private roads go way higher. Logging roads in Scandinavia go to 56 tons. Private industrial roads elsewhere similar or even higher. Don't even know the max (public) limit on semi's USA side. There is a market here even without modification.

[@martinbarend5814]

That is not entirely correct, in the Netherlands and the Benelux, special vehicles may be 25.25 m long and 60 tons heavy they are only allowed to drive on roads released by the National Road Traffic Agency; these are in any case all motorways and important through routes.

[@cptobvious8428]

I’m absolutely cracking up. Are you really trying to say that some,of,the best minds in the world,didn’t account for the grade school measurements? Get a life, even better get a job

[@GregHassler]

I don't know why anyone would have ever thought the current design Tesla Semi would have ever been intended for Europe.

[@Redmanticore]

investors thought so.

[@jormatalka]

In Finland Semi Trucks are 34.5 m (113.19 ft) long and they mass are 76’000 kg (167’551.319 pounds).

[@fluitfluiten]

The EU already amended the length requirements "for aerodynamic features, like a rounded nose. and reduced blindspots." The anchorpoint for the trailer on the Tesla ifs furhter forward in the graphic at 7:05 which makes the Tesla stick out more than it actually would. The only real issue is that it's estimated width of 259 cm is 4 cm to wide for current european regulations.

[@wolfsquared]

Tesla semi is only shorter because it doesn't have a sleeper cab. That is 100% necessary for long haul

[@paulkearsley9509]

Whatever date Elon states, we need to add 2 years to it. i.e. Tesla would not produce semi at 50k p.a. until 2026

[@EinzigfreierName]

1:27 50.000 units by 2024? This must be a joke. I'd expect more like 5.000 or so ..

[@stevetaylor2818]

Europe has already changed the regulation to allow more weight for EV trucks, so keeping the efficiency of the bullet shape would be a simple regulation change. Plus Modern truck-loading bays have lots of spare space and most cities in Europe have already banned large trucks from the roads during the day (London does not allow over 17.5 tons without a special permit) And as for sitting in the center: I used to drive agriculture tractors, often towing large machinery, and seated in the center is the best and most convenient place to be!

[@Cleanerwatt]

Good perspective!

[@alanmay7929]

Stop lying please!!! Diesel trucks in Europe are not only much powerful than American ones, but also European trucks tows significantly way more payloads, just look at Scandinavia with their up to 90 tons limits.

[@alanmay7929]

Agricultural tractors are totally different from a truck lol….. in agriculture everything is mostly done at the center and it’s not a truck application.

[@alanmay7929]

Even if they allow changes the tesla tractor will still be longer and much difficult to park compared to the significantly shorter European designs.

[@stevetaylor2818]

@@alanmay7929 EU rules [Directive (EU) 2015/719 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1242] have increased the maximum authorised weight to allow for the additional weight of zero-emission technology weighing up to a maximum of two tonnes

[@frankallen3634]

Kenworth, peterbuilt, and mack all make cab over normal diesel rigs

[@charles6084]

I agree with C Bromley. I believe the cab will not change. In Europe the regulations will morph to accommodate the extra length of the Semi’s cab with possible adjustment in trailer length as needed. One European semi truck driver who has never driven a Tesla Semi is only a poor guess at best. Please ask multiple Tesla Semi drivers what they think about the truck. Drivers who have first hand knowledge. The possible pros and cons of driving this truck in an European market.

[@vasiliyt8600]

The Tesla Semi as it designed today, it's way too big for Europe. In my hometown, it would stuck at the first turn.

[@vr4042]

The Tesla Semi clearly does not have a "long" nose similar to other US Trucks. Though, yes, it does appear longer than the completely flat COE European trucks. So overall, the Tesla tractor would need to be shortened to maximize EU trailers. But that could easily be done removing the extra space behind the driver's seat.

[@jamendetvarjukul]

So, there will be no passenger seat and no exit door? Hmmm....

[@AlexMiraz]

Man, you repeated the same 4 bits of info like 100 times each.

[@thobekanikhoza4038]

cameras are enough its a matter of getting used to these especially when backing up

[@lauriliinat7262]

If the Semi becomes economically superior over diesel and takes market share everywhere except the EU because of some rigid EU regulations then either EU will change regulations or EU will be left behind economically and EU citizens will suffer as a result. Simple as that.

[@vasiliyt8600]

Europe has already many EV semi trucks on the roads. In the USA, you are still waiting for the wonder EV semi truck to appear someday on your roads. Until Tesla Semi comes to Europe, the European manufacturers will have brought the 3rd or the 4th generation of EV semi-trucks to the market.

[@mavinswapp9663]

Want to back up? Turn the task over to software and let the truck do the job.

[@dc14522]

This is an interesting analysis, but I think you and the truck drivers are missing the big picture. The Tesla semi, between lower fuel and maintenance costs, is about 2/3rds less expensive to operate than a diesel truck. So the question isn't whether European trucking companies want to use shorter trailers to meet the length limits... the question is whether they have an economic incentive to do so.

[@Cleanerwatt]

That is a good point, but what about the smaller roads?

[@dc14522]

@@Cleanerwatt The maneuverability in close quarters is a function of the length of the body and wheel base of both the tractor and trailer. According to your graphic the European tractor would have a distinct advantage. But the shorter trailer required for the Tesla would also provide some advantage. However, for overall maneuverability and visibility in tight quarters the European type is undoubtedly better. But if the financial incentives are sufficient, they'll find a way to make it work... at least for as many locations as possible. I just don't think it's reasonable to write off the current design for Europe entirely.

[@anonanon1604]

🤷 oh well, guess if they want it they'll have to change some rules then

[@alanmay7929]

5:11 actually European trucks tows multiple trailers as well! In Scandinavia they have almost the double of what the regular European truck tows and the tesla won’t have any chance moving that lol…

[@Crunch_dGH]

Re: Euro-Compliant Semis. Aren’t Tesla Semis gigacasted using much easier/quicker, via CAD/CAM, to redesign casting dies, than conventional methods? Are those dies 3D printed?

[@thaile4ever]

The semi cab actually ends at the edge of the door panel. Everything pass that is just a aerodynamic fairing and external storage locker. I think part of the reason for the length is actually the battery pack so a smaller range say the 300 mile version would be European legal with no need for modification.

[@johnpayne8223]

I think Tesla has already planned the execution of the sleeper model which is yet to be released to the public. The additional room behind the cab that you mention will be used along with some additional cab length to have a sleeper equivalent to what the legacy manufactures currently offer. They need to stretch the wheelbase about three or four feet to accomplish this. The side entry door will then make a lot of sense. Entry to the sleeper will be extremely easy as compared to current designs where you have to jump over the drivers seat every time you want to enter or exit the cab.

[@johnhjic2]

Hello, I think you need to do more checking, I used to run a Mack R6 in the UK, There are also Scania and Volvo bonneted Semi rigs running in the UK. Yes there are issues like turning radius which in the UK can be interesting. That is one of the bigger problems in the UK.

[@aurelio-reymilaorcabal9669]

The lead person in charge of the Tesla Semi program was Jerome Guillen , who was also an Engineer in the Daimler Cascadia Semi , , I would think he would know a bit about Semis trucks.,regarding Europe Tesla has a few years of production allocated before pursuing other markets, if Teslas EV cars are any indication , they will dominate other markets when they decide to build for those markets, just as Space X 🚀and Tesla 🚘dominate in their markets.

[@V8Lenny]

No they want, because truck operators are not stupid like Tesla fans and truck drivers want practical equipment.

[@aurelio-reymilaorcabal9669]

@@V8Lenny some of the biggest Tesla fans are in Europe, Germany, even outselling VW/ VAG , Tesla not only practical, it is the best in BEVs and soon Trucks and the CYBRTRK too.

[@V8Lenny]

@@aurelio-reymilaorcabal9669 Huyndai EV beats Tesla everytime in real range tests and build quality is better, Tesla is typical US crap. And trucks and trucking, Tesla have no idea.

[@alsmith358]

If you measure the Tesla Semi from the front to the back of the driver's door, it is exactly the same length as a European Semi.

[@alanmay7929]

Nope it’s not! Stop lying 🤡

[@alanmay7929]

Have you measured it!? Wtf!!!!!

[@alanmay7929]

European semis are significantly way smaller than that.

[@jamesengland7461]

There's an illustration in the video which belies that

[@fluitfluiten]

@@jamesengland7461 In that illustration, take a closer look at the position of the Fifth weel. The tesla's is more to the front than that of the european model used.

[@robertmpeterson9755]

fritolay tesla semis are custom trailers that can adjust to dock differances . they bought trailers for those trucks.

[@Cleanerwatt]

Interesting...

[@jamesengland7461]

I've never heard mention of anything about trailers. I'm pretty doubtful that this is true.

[@yootoober2009]

If you stack the batteries that will shorten the frame... then if you move the 2 motors up front that will also shorten the chassis some more... then the rest might just be inches to whittle away... or keep the two motors in the back and move the single (highway) motor up front with all the controls