Paper Transport LLC announced a pilot program to test the Tesla Semi Long Range truck in dedicated operations across the Chicago market. The Wisconsin-based carrier will evaluate the electric Class 8 vehicle in colder weather conditions.
The partnership marks the latest fleet evaluation of Tesla's electric truck as production continues at Gigafactory Nevada. Paper Transport will assess performance, reliability and cost efficiency on predictable routes.
PTI CEO Tyler Ellison said the move expands the company's sustainability options alongside renewable natural gas and intermodal transport. VP of Maintenance Bryan Ellen noted the company is bullish on parallels between its dedicated model and the Semi's efficiency.
The Long Range configuration features a 500-mile range, three-motor powertrain and 800 kW of drive power at a price of $290,000. Paper Transport has already logged more than 87 million miles using compressed and renewable natural gas.
The pilot is an evaluation rather than a fleet-wide order. It follows earlier testing by companies including PepsiCo and ArcBest.
