Loblaw, Walmart pre-order Tesla all-electric transport trucks

Loblaw Companies Limited says it is among the first purchasers of Tesla's new electric truck.

Canada's largest supermarket chain said it had pre-ordered 25 of the vehicles called the Tesla Semi.

"It's part of our commitment to electrify our fleet," spokeswoman Catherine Thomas said.

Earlier this month, Loblaw committed to have a fully electric fleet as part of the company's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030.

That would involve adding 350 zero-emission vehicles and more than 2,500 trailers to the fleet.

First deliveries of the Tesla trucks are expected in 2019.

No price for the trucks was provided, but reservations for the Tesla Semi cost US$5,000 per truck.

Walmart said it had also pre-ordered 15 vehicles, including 10 for its Canadian routes.

"We have a long history of testing new technology -- including alternative-fuel trucks -- and we are excited to be among the first to pilot this new heavy-duty electric vehicle,'' Walmart spokesman Ryan Curell wrote in an email.

"We believe we can learn how this technology performs within our supply chain, as well as how it could help us meet some of our long-term sustainability goals, such as lowering emissions."

Tesla declined to identify any other Canadian buyers for the truck that it said could go from zero to 100 kph in five seconds without a trailer, compared to 15 seconds for a comparable diesel truck.

It said the Tesla Semi required no shifting for smooth acceleration and its brakes recover 98% of kinetic energy to the battery.

"Overall, the Semi is more responsive, covers more miles than a diesel truck in the same amount of time, and more safely integrates with passenger car traffic," it said on the company's website.

Tesla said a fully loaded Semi consumes less than two kilowatt-hours of energy per mile and has a range of about 800 kilometres. That could save owners at least US$200,000 in fuel costs over 1.6 million km.