Range Energy shows how its eTrailer saves almost as much as a Tesla Semi

Range Energy, a company working to electrify trucking through the use of a trailer with its own battery and motors, has published an analysis showing how much fleets can save through electrification – and just at the right time, with diesel at record highs.

📌 The Core Development

You may have heard a little something about diesel prices lately, which have just about doubled in less than a year due to Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran .

Diesel is now at record highs, and it’s devastating fleets and truck drivers and anyone who uses any products that are delivered on trucks (so, everyone). It’s an urgent problem that needs an urgent solution, and solutions are not forthcoming from the responsible entities.

🔍 Background & Sector Context

So, fleets have to seek another solution, and Range Energy would like to be the one that provides it.

Range is a startup based in California, founded and staffed by former Tesla employees and others from around the EV industry. It’s building an electrified trailer which we demoed at ACT Expo in 2024 (really, watch it, it’s a very cool demo ) which promises to cut fleet fuel use significantly.

📊 Industry & Real-World Impact

It does this by having its own battery and motors inside the trailer, meaning the tractor doesn’t have to work nearly as hard as the trailer can effectively pull its own weight. Even though the tractor still runs on diesel, it uses a whole lot less of it.

🔮 Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead

This differs from the other popular option for fleets: full electrification. There are a number of electric semi tractors available, and fleets have been moving to install them, getting their depots ready for charging. But Range lets you bring your own tractor, and electrifies the trailer instead.

Range previously published some early findings, showing a 36% reduction in fuel use in a testing scenario. It also did a pilot program with an egg farm in California , which improved the fuel efficiency of the farm’s diesel fleet by 50-70%.