Tesla's big electric truck faces an even bigger infrastructure challenge

Tesla’s long-awaited Semi ramped up at Tesla’s factory in Sparks, Nevada, where the company focused on an electric vehicle after years of positioning itself as more than an automaker. At a livestreamed, invite-only event, Tesla confirmed ranges for the Semi: about 500 miles per charge for the long-range version and 325 miles for the standard version. Competitor EVs advertise 155 to 430 miles. The challenge is infrastructure. The article notes electric trucks still face slow US adoption partly because they can cost two to three times more upfront and require a national network of specialized megawatt chargers. Tesla plans to open 30 public chargers by year-end. Musk also cited record US diesel prices and says electricity is cheaper in “crazy times.”