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Bill Gates Indicates That Tesla's Semi-Trucks Will Not Work 

The world's second-richest man posits that the bigger the vehicle the more batteries it needs to be powered and that's why those concepts will not work.
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By Sahil Gupta

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1 mins read

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Published on September 8, 2020

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Highlights

  • Microsoft's co-founder believes electrification will not work for trucks
  • He believes that there will be need for a new technology
  • He has invested in a start-up called QuantumScape that makes batteries

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is indicating that electric semi-trucks like the Tesla Semi will not work because the batteries are big and bulky. The world's second-richest man posits that the bigger the vehicle the more batteries it needs to be powered and that's why those concepts will not work. He further elaborates that electrification for 18 Wheeler cargo trucks or electric jets will not work because a lot of batteries will be needed for vehicles that are really heavy. 
 
"The problem is that batteries are big and heavy. The more weight you're trying to move, the more batteries you need to power the vehicle. But the more batteries you use, the more weight you add-and the more power you need. Even with big breakthroughs in battery technology, electric vehicles will probably never be a practical solution for things like 18-wheelers, cargo ships, and passenger jets. Electricity works when you need to cover short distances, but we need a different solution for heavy, long-haul vehicles," he said in a blog post on his own website

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The billionaire is pushing for electrification. 

The billionaire's comments come alongside the revelation of an investment in electric car battery maker QuantumScape which is making solid-state batteries that could potentially transform the electrification of vehicles. 

tesla semi truck

Tesla's Semi Truck will use larger batteries making it bulky according to Gates

In more ways than one Bill Gates is kind of extending his Cold War with Tesla founder Elon Musk. Elon Musk has predicted that once the battery has reached the 400 kilowatts/hr capacity then they will be very useful for electric planes. Bill Gates of late has often snubbed Tesla's vehicles in his own blog posts. He has made no mention of Tesla vehicles but instead has pushed other electric car projects like the Rivian.

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Last Updated on September 8, 2020


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