Tesla unveils electric semi-truck, new sports car

Elon Musk, chairman and CEO of Tesla, unveils the company's new electric semi-truck in Hawthorne, Calif., on Thursday. Photo by Tesla/UPI

Nov. 18 (UPI) — Tesla revealed its new electric semi-truck and a new version of its Roadster sports car, boasting the vehicles’ acceleration times and long-distance capabilities.

The company said in a press release the semi-trucks can accelerate from 0-to-60 mph in five seconds with an empty trailer, comparable to acceleration times usually seen in sedans.

Revealing its newest sports car, Tesla said its newest version of the Roadster can speed up to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating production car ever.

The four-seater will be available for purchase in 2020, starting at $200,000 each and will require a $50,000 deposit to reserve the car.

The semi-truck can go 500 miles with a full load at highway speeds, which is twice the distance of most U.S. freight routes.

The driver of the semi will be seated in the center as opposed to on the left or right with a touchscreen on either side.

“With far fewer moving parts than a diesel truck — no engine, transmission, after-treatment system or differentials to upkeep — the Tesla Semi requires significantly less maintenance,” Tesla said in a statement.

But CNN noted that diesel trucks can travel farther than 500 miles. Diesel-powered trucks also take much less time to refuel than electric Tesla semis.

It is not clear what the final price of the truck will be, but reservations for the truck can be made for $5,000 per vehicle.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted earlier this week that the reveal would “blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension.”

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