Tesla have unveiled its latest project - an electric truck
Camera IconTesla have unveiled its latest project - an electric truck Credit: Supplied

Tesla unveils electric big-rig truck Telsa Semi

Alexandria Sage, APPerthNow

TESLA has unveiled a prototype electric big-rig truck that it will start producing in 2019.

Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled the big rig, dubbed the Tesla Semi, by riding the truck into an airport hangar near Los Angeles in front of a crowd of Tesla car owners and potential buyers.

Later the semi truck opened its trailer, and a new Roadster drove out. The car is an updated version of Tesla's first production vehicle. It can seat four and travel 1,000 km on a single charge, a new record for an electric vehicle, Musk said.

It can go from 0 to 100 km per hour in 1.9 seconds.

Musk has described electric trucks as Tesla's next effort to move the economy away from fossil fuels through projects including electric cars, solar roofs and power storage.

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Some analysts fear the truck will be an expensive distraction for Tesla, which is burning cash, has never posted an annual profit, and is in self-described "manufacturing hell" starting up production of the $US35,000 Model 3 sedan.

Musk did not give a price for the truck.