Mind = blown, Elon.

Err, OK, I might disagree but you can come to your own decision.

Introducing Tesla’s first electric semi-truck, which Elon was all kinds of excited about.

Here’s the tweet he banged out earlier this week:

Mind clear out of your skull? Sounds like a right mess.

Anyway the truck was unveiled early this morning SA time, or Thursday night over in Los Angeles, with these deets via Wired:

Powered by a massive battery and capable of hauling 80,000 pounds, it can ramble 500 miles between charges. It’ll even drive itself—on the highway, at least.

And Musk promises production will start in 2019…

From the outside, the carbon fiber cab is all smooth lines. Aerodynamics are a real big deal when it comes to fuel economy and making every electron count, and Tesla promises the Semi will cut through the wind more efficiently than some sports cars…

The cab is about 6’6” tall, so most anybody can stand up inside. The suicide doors stretch from the bottom to the top of the cab, making access extra easy. The human in charge gets two 15-inch touchscreens, one on either side, to handle navigation, data logging (for hours of service and the like), and blind spot monitoring. The only button in sight operates the hazard lights, everything else is done via one of the screens, or the two stalks coming off the three-spoke steering wheel.

Bugger it – here’s Elon hopping out of the truck and doing his spiel:

For added effect, a Tesla sports car made an unannounced appearance too.

Via the Guardian:

The new Roadster, which has the same name as the first electric vehicle produced by Tesla from 2008 to 2012, emerged from the back of one of the trucks at the end of a presentation that focused largely on the economic and performance needs of truck drivers.

“The point of doing this is just to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars,” Musk said. “Driving a gasoline sports car is going to feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche.”

We’ll spare you the video on that one.

[sources:guardian&wired]