United Parcel Service buys fleet of Tesla’s all-electric big rigs
Detroit — United Parcel Service said on Tuesday it was buying 125 Tesla all-electric semi-trucks, the largest order for the big rig so far, as the package delivery company expands its fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles. Tesla is trying to convince the trucking community it can build an affordable electric big rig with the range and cargo capacity to compete with relatively low-cost, time-tested diesel trucks. This is the largest public order of the big rig so far, Tesla said. The Tesla trucks will cost about $200,000 each for a total order of about $25m. UPS expected the semi-trucks, the big rigs that haul freight along America’s highways, will have a lower total cost of ownership than conventional vehicles, which run about $120,000. Tesla has received pre-orders from such major companies as Walmart, fleet operator JB Hunt Transport Services and food service distributor Sysco Corporation. Prior to UPS, the largest single pre-order came from PepsiCo, for 100 trucks. UPS said it has p...
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