Tesla, the world's biggest electric car manufacturer, has entered the truck market with the delivery of its first Semi model.
It has been a long time coming, having been unveiled by chief executive Elon Musk in 2017.
But how environmentally friendly is it and is it capable of long-distance haulage? Here's all you need to know:
How is the Tesla Semi different from other trucks?
First and foremost, it's all electric, so has significantly reduced emissions, while also having impressive acceleration — for a truck — of zero to about 100kph in 20 seconds.
Mr Musk said the Semi has three times the power of any diesel-powered lorry and uses regenerative braking to improve efficiency.
Tesla said charging with electricity is about 2.5 times cheaper per mile than refuelling with diesel.
Trucks in Semi's category represent just 1 per cent of US vehicle sales but 20 per cent of overall vehicle emissions, the company said.
“This thing has crazy power relative to a diesel truck,” Mr Musk said. “Basically, it's like an elephant moving like a cheetah.”
It has a central seating position, while “an all-electric architecture reduces both rollover risk and cabin intrusion in case of an accident”, Tesla said.
No details were given on driver-assistance technology.
How far can it drive?
Indeed, cargo needs delivering over long distances, especially in the US.
And electric vehicles, of course, require frequent charging.
Tesla showed a time-lapse video in which a Semi, which was said to be “fully loaded”, drove 500km on a single charge.
It said it can recover up to 70 per cent of range in 30 minutes using Tesla’s Semi chargers, and operators can see estimated fuel savings of up to $200,000 within their first three years of ownership.
What is the price?
This is a bit of a mystery. Back in 2017, Tesla said the 500km-range version of the Semi would cost $150,000, and the 800km-range version $180,000. However, Mr Musk was tight-lipped on the price during the launch event on December 1.
Prices of other Tesla models have risen in the past year, amid inflationary pressures and supply chain issues.
Who has ordered one?
PepsiCo was the first recipient of the Semi. It ordered 100 trucks in 2017.
It had previously said it aims to use the lorries to ship snack foods and beverages between manufacturing and distribution centres, as well as to retailers.
Robyn Denholm, chair of Tesla, recently said the automaker might produce 100 Semis this year, but Mr Musk did not comment on production volumes at the launch.
In late October, Mr Musk said that Tesla is aiming to build 50,000 Semis by 2024.
Brewer Anheuser-Busch, United Parcel Service and Walmart were among other companies to have reserved the Semi.
Can it fight aliens?
Er, no. When the Semi was first unveiled in 2017, Mr Musk said, tongue in cheek, that it could “transform into a robot, fight aliens and make one hell of a latte”. He also claimed it would “blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension”.
What else did Elon Musk say?
He apologised for the delay and added: “The sheer amount of drama between five years ago and now is insane. A lot has happened in the world, but here we are, and it’s real.”
He described the Semi as a “game-changer”, and said: “you have all the power you need to get the job done”.
What's next for Tesla?
The Cybertruck. It was first unveiled back in 2019 to great fanfare, and was said in October to be in “the final lap”, with production to start in the middle of next year.
It has been designed to have the pull of an off-road vehicle, while maintaining the speed of a high-end sports car.
Tesla is also developing a robot called Optimus, which will be able to carry out simple tasks such as lifting boxes and watering plants.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
