Tesla Semi filings confirm 4680 batteries

Lede This is about heavy‑duty electric trucking — and the batteries inside the truck. The California Air Resources Board certified Tesla’s Semi powertrains in an executive order, and that document finally names usable pack sizes. Fleet buyers and charging planners now have concrete numbers to build around — not just promises. (electrek.co) The filing shows the Semi runs on Tesla’s 4680-format NCMA cells and comes in two battery options. (teslarati.com) What did the filing actually say? The certification lists two usable battery capacities: 822 kWh for the Long Range Semi and 548 kWh for the Standard. It also notes peak motor outputs and the truck’s target ranges at full 82,000‑lb gross weight. (electrek.co) Those details are the first regulatory confirmation of what Tesla will certify for sale. Are these the 4680 cells everyone talks about? Yes — the document ties the Semi’s packs to NCMA chemistry in Tesla’s 4680-format cells. That’s the same form factor Tesla has pushed since Battery Day — thicker, cylindrical, built for structural integration. The obvious upside: Tesla can scale cells and packs inside the same factory footprint. (electrek.co) How do the pack sizes map to range and efficiency? Tesla’s published operating number for the Semi has been roughly 1.7 kWh per mile at heavy load. At that efficiency, the 822 kWh pack lines up with the company’s 500‑mile claim and the 548 kWh pack lines up with a roughly 325‑mile claim. In plain terms — smaller packs, same stated ranges, which means the truck’s efficiency assumptions are crucial. (teslarati.com) What about charging speed — is 1.2 MW real? The filings and related spec sheets mention very high‑power charging capability for fleet use — figures in the 1.0–1.2 MW neighborhood have circulated. That’s a different scale from passenger EV fast chargers — it’s the kind of power a warehouse or truckstop needs to top dozens of Semis quickly. (insideevs.com) The catch is grid upgrades and on‑site power management. Does this change Tesla’s earlier claims? A bit. Elon Musk once hinted at roughly 900 kWh for the Long Range variant. The certified 822 kWh is smaller — but Tesla’s range numbers hold. So the company appears to have found efficiency gains or different test baselines that let it hit the same range with less stored energy. (teslarati.com) That’s good for cost and weight — but it raises questions about real‑world payload and weather effects. What does this mean for fleets and infrastructure? Fleets can now model total cost of ownership with real pack numbers. Shorter pack for the Standard trim lowers upfront cost and charging draw, while the Long Range still supports long runs. (torquenews.com) The infrastructure build is the hard part — megawatt chargers, local substations, and site energy storage will be needed where fleets refuel. Expect early adopters to cluster near heavy‑power sites. Bottom line The Semi’s specs are no longer rumor. Two usable pack sizes — 822 kWh and 548 kWh — on 4680 NCMA cells give fleets real inputs for buying and planning. The headline: Tesla cut the battery size a bit from earlier hints but kept the range targets — which is great if the efficiency assumptions hold. (electrek.co) (teslarati.com) (insideevs.com)