Tesla wants to test driverless trucks with no-one on board

Tesla is developing self-driving, electric trucks that can follow a lead vehicle and travel in ‘platoons,’ without a human in the vehicle.

However, some are doubtful whether fully electric trucks are feasible, even without the autonomous part.

Elon Musk’s company is due to unveil an electric truck called the Tesla Semi in September. Leaked correspondence with local officials in Nevada and California seen by Reuters reveal that the company has sought permission to test trucks that can operate in autonomous mode without a person in the vehicle.

“To ensure we are on the same page, our primary goal is the ability to operate our prototype test trucks in a continuous manner across the state line and within the States of Nevada and California in a platooning and/or Autonomous mode without having a person in the vehicle,” wrote a Tesla official in email to Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

If granted, this would be one of the first tests of driverless technology with no human involved. Platoons of autonomous trucks could operate on long, straight stretches of highway and could reduce the number of human drivers required by only having one in the lead vehicle.

Another option could follow the route of Swedish start-up Einride. Their T-pod prototype is an autonomous electric truck that can travel autonomously on motorways and be controlled remotely by a ‘designated driver’ when it’s in cities.

The all-electric Tesla Semi was first announced in April, in a tweet from Musk, but some researchers are sceptical about whether technology will be up to scratch yet.

“The UK industry will embrace this technology because it will help solve one of our biggest problems – the 55,000 truck-driver shortage,” Nigel Parkes, the managing director of distribution company Pallet-Track, told Professional Engineering in May. “However, it is a massive step and there are many fundamental issues that need to be resolved.”

"Today's leaked correspondence show's that Tesla see this market as a real opportunity," Philippa Oldham, IMechE's head of transport and manufacturing, told PE. "However, whilst battery capability is developing all the time there are still certain limitations. With current offerings the weight of the battery along with the mileage range and haulage load are all limiting factors. This is before we even consider the current economic feasibility."

Research from Carnegie Mellon University estimated that a battery-powered semi would be limited to 300 miles, and would be prohibitively expensive. “Our paper suggests that using a bigger battery pack to achieve longer range maximum payload is unfeasible, given the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries,” Venkat Viswanathan, one of the researchers, told Wired. “Three hundred to 350 miles is probably what the vehicle could be designed for. Beyond that, the battery would be both very heavy and very expensive.”