UPS Places Large Order for Tesla's Electric Big Rig

Tesla may have upstaged its electric big rig announcement with their sexy, new Roadster, but UPS doesn’t care. While the international delivery service plans to convert two-thirds of its NYC fleet to electric – via Unique Electric Solutions – they’ve also placed a large order with Tesla.

United Parcel Service ordered 125 Tesla electric semi-trucks, which is apparently the largest such order. And while the electric big rigs will run a cool $200,000 – $80,000 more than traditional semi trucks – they’ll sport an electric range of 500 miles while hauling cargo up to 80,000 pounds.

The electric version will also have a lower cost-of-ownership – $1.26 per mile vs. $1.51 for a diesel truck.

“We have high expectations and are very optimistic that this will be a good product and it will have firm support from Tesla to make it work,” said Scott Phillippi, UPS senior director for automotive maintenance and engineering for international operations.

Counting UPS, this makes 410 pre-orders for Tesla’s electric big rig, which goes into production in 2019.

Read more here: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ups-tesla-orders/ups-pre-orders-125-tesla-electric-semi-trucks-largest-order-yet-idUSKBN1ED1QM