Automotive

Budweiser-maker loads up on electric Tesla Semis for beer delivery

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The specs that accompanied the reveal of the Tesla Semi last month are seriously impressive
The specs that accompanied the reveal of the Tesla Semi last month are seriously impressive
Tesla
American brewhouse Anheuser-Busch has placed an order for 40 Tesla Semis
Tesla
Rendering of the Tesla Semi's cabin
Tesla
The specs that accompanied the reveal of the Tesla Semi last month are seriously impressive
The electric Tesla Semi has a claimed 500-mi range (805 km)
Tesla
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Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Budweiser (and other, lesser known ales), is looking to reduce the environmental footprint of shipping its products all over the US. Part of this means shifting towards greener forms of trucking, and for the American brewhouse, Tesla's recently-revealed electric Semi is a good place to start.

Anheuser-Busch has flagged its interest in modernizing its trucking fleet previously, last year using Uber's Otto self-driving big-rig to deliver around 50,000 cans of Budweiser as part of a trial in Colorado. It is also working with Nikola Motors on its hydrogen-powered engines for trucks that are boldly claimed to offer a 800 to 1,200-mi range (1,287 to 1,931 km).

It has now placed an order for 40 Tesla Semis, which it says is one of the largest reported pre-orders for the electric, autonomous long hauler. The specs that accompanied the reveal of the Tesla Semi last month are seriously impressive, with a 500-mi range (805 km), and an ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in five seconds when empty, placing it in sports scar territory.

Rendering of the Tesla Semi's cabin
Tesla

Anheuser-Busch is looking to use these capabilities, along with its self-driving technologies, as part of a push to make the roads safer and reduce its operational carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025. It says this is equivalent to pulling 500,000 cars off the road globally each year.

"At Anheuser-Busch, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our supply chain more sustainable, efficient, and innovative," says James Sembrot, Senior Director of Logistics Strategy. "This investment in Tesla semi-trucks helps us achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact."

Source: Anheuser-Busch

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3 comments
Gizmowiz
I wish the shipping industry would lower it's environmental impact--shipping container ships pollute more than all the world's cars put together.
Gizmowiz
Tesla is really missing a bragging rights race by not challenging the best diesel out there to a race from Golden, CO to Las Vegas, NV.
A rigidily controlled race following all trucking rules for rests, GPS to make sure no one is cheating by racing downhill above the speed limit, pulling exact same total weights of 80,000 lbs, and the Tesla would win every time because a diesel truck would lose an hour or more on the 5 to 7% grades over that route to Vegas. An even a half hour charge up to full in Green River or thereabouts would still put the Tesla a half hour ahead.
Bragging rights indeed it would destroy forever the doubters.
McDesign
Vincent - maybe - a movie about some wealthy guys who are "thirsty in Atlanta" when there's "beer in Texarkana" . . .
Dunno - could work.