# Tesla Semi 14 Hacker News commenters recommended Tesla Semi and 40 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Battery-electric semi that people cite for lower running and maintenance costs than diesel. Critics point to repeatedly missed production timelines and fire risk. ## Why people recommend it - Lower running and maintenance costs than diesel (2 comments): "reduced maintenance cost and time significantly affect the economics of trucking" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47166952)) "The economics of diesel vs electric for heavy haul trucks is a no-brainer." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48445297)) - Running with fleets on real routes (3 comments): "Tesla has said it has a few hundred Semis on the road with 13.5 million miles logged." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47897763)) "why does PepsiCo/Frito Lay continue to use Tesla Semi heavy haul electic trucks?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48496274)) "the Semi seems fairly popular where it's suitable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48498576)) - Long claimed range and low price (2 comments): "The Tesla semi is the only truck with a 500 mile range." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48004506)) "I'll take that bet on price and range." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48004599)) - Lighter and expected to be high quality (2 comments): "I also expect the Semi (heavy haul truck) to be of excellent quality" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48474366)) "The 2026 version of Tesla Semi is 450kg lighter than 2022 model" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48477366)) ## What people warn about - Production and delivery timelines repeatedly missed (8 comments): "How many times has Elon claimed that Tesla semi is in mass production?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47952089)) "they could've done this years ago if it wasn't a made up timeline" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47008672)) "Tesla semi trucks rollout (Pepsi paid for 100 semis in 2017, and deliveries started in 2022, and now 8 years later they have received half of them.)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46825230)) - Breakdowns and towing needed (3 comments): "Tesla's truck sucks but the others don't because they're built on established platforms" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46071134)) "they seem to have really jumped the shark on delivering products that are functional" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46811387)) "numerous cases of the Tesla trucks dying and needing to be towed by ICE trucks" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48004954)) - Battery fires and crash safety concerns (3 comments): "The fire from the batteries lasts hours, which is a huge issue for everyone else and the fire departments." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50276748)) "Tesla made a decision to make their semi less safe than the average for the vehicle class." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48765020)) "somehow got excluded from the Tesla Semi for some inexplicable crashes with big explosions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49973551)) - Overstated range and capability claims (3 comments): "Tesla has a history of exaggerating the ranges of their vehicles to an extent that competitors do not." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48004741)) "Cybertruck, Semi, Hyperloop, robotaxi, point-to-point rocket travel, tunnels, the list goes on." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47612426)) "Everybody knows they just make up stuff as they go, but it's quite hilarious to watch." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47872296)) ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.tesla.com/semi) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Tesla Semi", https://hackerapproved.com/p/tesla-semi/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).