Tesla company has been working on an electric semi-truck since 2016 and had earlier promised to unveil it this September. CEO Elon Musk tweeted the revised date, noting also that it would include a "test ride," meaning it will be operational when it is first revealed to the public, TechCrunch reported on Thursday.
The CEO had first made the announcement about the semi truck via micro-blogging site Twitter in April. Musk had also posted on Tesla's blog in July 2016 about building a grander sustainable energy ecosystem that includes electric semi trucks, pickups, and high-density passenger vehicles (such as buses) — all of which would be powered by integrated solar and battery systems.
The concept of an electric semi-truck is likely to witness high demand as companies try to meet increasingly strict emissions regulations. Engine giant Cummins unveiled a Class 7 concept semi truck late last month which is dubbed as AEOS and runs completely on the power of an electric motor and a 140kWh battery pack. Cummins has recruited engineering firm Roush to help design and build the concept semi truck. It would sell the semi truck to bus operators and commercial truck fleets starting in 2019.