Here's what you need to know:
- Windrose is advancing with the rollout of its R700 Class 8 battery-electric semi, positioning it as a serious competitor to the Tesla Semi.
- A recent 578-mile roundtrip test (Colton, Calif. to Buckeye, Ariz.) validated the R700’s performance on the I-10 corridor, a key route for zero-emission freight.
- According to CEO Wen Han, full production of the R700 will begin in Q3 2025, though the manufacturing location has not yet been disclosed.
Windrose continues to make impressive progress with the rollout of its R700 Class 8 battery-electric semi, a direct rival to the Tesla Semi.
Clean Trucking interviewed Windrose founder, chairman, and CEO Wen Han at ACT Expo last month and where we were told R700 series production will get underway in Q3 of this year at a still unknown location.
[Related: Windrose CEO Wen Han's bold U.S. market plan is underway]
In the meantime, Windrose has released a new video showcasing the R700 completing a full-route validation, beginning from Colton, Calif. to Buckeye, Ariz.
The video demonstration, which can be viewed below, was carried out on the I-10 corridor, one of several that've been designated as national priorities for zero-emission freight purposes. The route's total distance consisted of 578 miles roundtrip (289 miles one-way).
Not only are the Windrose R700's capabilities shown with about a 75,000-pound GCW (the U.S. average GCW limit for heavy-duty semis is 80,000 lbs.), but also the route itself.
Greenlane, a joint venture established between Daimler Trucks North America, NextEra Energy Resources, and BlackRock, opened its inaugural charging site for zero-emissions freight in Colton last month.
[Related: Windrose officially launches Tesla Semi fighter in the U.S.]
Located at the intersection of Interstates 215 and 10, it features over 40 high-speed chargers and numerous amenities such as a truck driver lounge packed with WiFi, food and drinks, and 24/7 customer service.
The Windrose R700 is equipped with a 729 kWh battery, an 800V high-voltage platform capable of megawatt-level dual-inlet charging, a drag coefficient of 0.2755, and a loaded autonomous range of 670 km (416 miles).
[Related: Check out the Windrose inside and out; the Tesla Semi's best competitor?]
Final pricing has not been announced but previous reports suggest a starting figure of around $250,000.
This isn't the first time Windrose proved itself. Last July, an R700 completed a 2,800-mile road trip test from New York to Los Angeles. It has already received EPA approval and successful Megawatt charging testing.
