Covenant has spent the last two weeks testing the capabilities of the Tesla Semi with one of its larger customers in California, according to Matt McLelland, the company’s VP of Sustainability and Innovation.
As one of the final runs, the electric truck tackled a section of I-5 between Santa Clarita and the San Joaquin Valley over the Tejon Pass, a route famously known as “The Grapevine”.
McLelland noted that this specific lane is critical for trucks hauling cargo from the ports in Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. Sitting at an elevation of 4,160 feet, it represents the highest point on I-5 in California. The northbound descent from Tejon Summit drops 2,613 feet over 11.6 miles, with the steepest section running about a six per cent grade for five miles.
Running the Grapevine with a loaded trailer is about as demanding a real-world test as can be designed for any truck. McLelland explained that when running northbound, losing momentum on a steep grade with a heavy load can be stressful, as speed drops fast and recovering on that grade is challenging. Running southbound requires close attention to braking and heat management, though McLelland highlighted that this is not a problem for an electric vehicle since regenerative braking does most of the work.
The Grapevine can be stressful even for the most experienced drivers. Despite the difficult conditions, McLelland stated that their driver was amazed at the performance of the Tesla Semi and felt a level of confidence that is hard to match in a traditional diesel truck.
A full summary of the testing data is expected to be released soon.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. — Buying a new Tesla? Click here to save $1,000 USD, while supporting independent news.
Help support us by shopping on Amazon here.
Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent media!
