The head of Tesla Ilon Mask does not hesitate to make promises, in the ability of which to realize many skeptics do not believe until the last moment. In September, the company will present a trunk tractor on electric traction, and now it becomes clear that the announcement will be "paper". At least Reuters referring to the correspondence of Tesla representatives with the competent authorities of the State of Nevada reports that the company is only trying to get permission to test two prototypes of electric trucks capable of moving along the highway in automatic mode or to follow the leading vehicle in the "caravan" . The Nevada authorities confirm that negotiations with Tesla are under way, but they have not yet given permission.
The presence of an autopilot for such commercial vehicles Tesla for the first time discusses publicly, although competitors have long been actively working in this direction, trying to put the profession of "trucker" on the brink of extinction. The use of automation in this area is supported by arguments such as the lack of fatigue and the invariably high level of safety, as well as the relatively calm traffic situation on the highway, which is easier to analyze by computer systems than when traveling in dense urban traffic. Finally, robots simply do not need to pay salaries and give them time to rest. It will be enough to make stops for refueling or charging a tractor with a semitrailer, as well as for maintenance.
Tesla also tries to get permission to test its autonomous tractors on the roads of California. Movement in the "caravans" allows not only to save on fuel by reducing the aerodynamic drag for the driven vehicles, but also allows you to be satisfied with the only "living" driver behind the wheel of the leading vehicle. With the proper scheduling of the schedule and driving mode, it also allows you to reduce fuel costs.