Tesla To Showcase Semi Performance and Efficiency in 'Run on Less' Trucking Event

One of PepsiCo's Tesla Semis

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Tesla's Semi is set to participate in the Run on Less trucking industry event beginning September 11. In collaboration with PepsiCo, Tesla will showcase its innovative, sustainable approach to trucking as the first independent performance data for Tesla's all-electric Class 8 semi-truck is unveiled during the three-week event. Tesla's participation in the event is highly anticipated, given the company's reputation for disrupting the automotive sector.

In an interview with Automotive News, Amanda DeVoe, sustainability and technology director of the fleet at PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, "We're really excited to participate in the run and allow the industry to have access to the insights and the learnings that we are getting from experiencing these vehicles."

First independent performance data of Tesla's Semi

The Run on Less event will closely monitor the performance of the Tesla Semi, providing invaluable insights into the electric truck's real-world capabilities. This information will be of great importance to the trucking and freight industries, as Tesla's revolutionary electric class 8 truck has the potential to redefine sustainable trucking.

Throughout the event, the Tesla Semi will be put to the test, operating with maximum payload and traveling up to 500 miles round trip. Data sets made public during the event will include distance traveled, the effect of speed and distance on a battery charge, and weather conditions encountered by the vehicles. With trucks operating from seven depots in California and one in New York, the event will offer a comprehensive look at the performance of electric trucks in various conditions.

Event to showcase the real-world capabilities versus the Competition

The Run on Less event will feature electric trucks from other brands, such as Nikola, Freightliner, and Volvo. However, the focus on Tesla's Semi underscores the company's significance in the electric vehicle market and the trucking industry's eagerness to learn more about its revolutionary technology.

Tesla has already made impressive claims about the Semi, including a range of 300 to 500 miles and the ability to charge up to 70 percent of its range in just 30 minutes. Additionally, the electric semi-truck is projected to save $200,000 in fuel expenses over three years of operation, highlighting the potential for environmental and financial benefits.

As the trucking industry eagerly awaits the results of the Run on Less event, all eyes are on Tesla to showcase the future of sustainable trucking and the true capabilities of its electric Class 8 truck. This event marks an exciting step forward in Tesla's ongoing mission to revolutionize the automotive and trucking industries.

A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

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Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

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Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

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Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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