The United Parcel Service (UPS) has announced it has placed a reservation for 125 of Tesla’s new electric semi-trucks.

Juan Perez, UPS chief information and engineering officer, said: “For more than a century, UPS has led the industry in testing and implementing new technologies for more efficient fleet operations. We look forward to expanding further our commitment to fleet excellence with Tesla.

“These groundbreaking electric tractors are poised to usher in a new era in improved safety, reduced environmental impact, and reduced cost of ownership.”

UPS isn’t the first major logistics player to make an order from Tesla. DHL, with its plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, has already placed a major order with Elon Musk’s company.

A word on fast charging trucks of this size. They require vast amounts of energy to ‘refuel’ within the times claimed by Tesla in fast charging mode. The sort of energy required for 5 Tesla semis on fast charge would be similar to that of a large town. While the promise of UPS electric trucks traversing the Lower 48 while emitting only fresh air into the atmosphere is a good one, they still require the energy to do it. If there is a ranch full of wind turbines by the supercharger station to fuel the trucks with wind energy that would be great. As it is, conservatism in energy policy among the powers-that-be may lead to coal or nuclear power being used to keep these trucks rolling. Energy policy in politics needs to change as well as the outlook of the biggest logistics players to cut back on greenhouse gases…
 
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