Tesla driver-free truck to be tested on the roads of California

Elon Musk plans to trial the self-driving fully autonomous electric trucks on public roads

According to Reuters, the Tesla truck prototype is being prepared for an on-road testing by Elon Musk’s company in collaboration with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and authorities in California.

Leaked correspondence between DVM and Tesla shows that the energy storage company applied for approval of testing for the first time the “free-of-human driver” vehicles on the public roads of the states.
As the online document quotes, Musk requested permission to “operate our prototype test trucks in a continuous manner across the state line and within the states of Nevada and California in a platooning and/or autonomous mode without having a person in the vehicle”.

The request marks a step forward for Tesla, while the competition in the sector begins to rise, as Uber and Waymo also make significant advances in the commercial transport area.

Yet to be inaugurated in September, the autonomous electric driver-less truck is considered to the next innovation in greener and safer transportation, as Tesla is a world-renowned company for its environmental supportive projects and low-priced models. The company’s goal is to totally remove human assistance and boost efficiency of commercial road transportation.

Other companies are currently focusing on future technology for road trains, in order to achieve the same results. For instance, Peloton Technology, a startup based in Silicon Valley works on the development of the so-called platooning or road train system, in the awaiting of a technology that develops full autonomy.

While researchers state that an electric long-haul truck is not economically feasible, comments on the matter from Elon Musk’s Tesla representative have not been issued yet.

Source: theguardian.com