FYI: Tesla is intensifying its efforts to robustly test the Semi, the all-electric Class 8 vehicle, by hiring a Senior Test Engineer for Abuse Test & Engineering. The position is based in Fremont, California, with an eye on improving the vehicle’s power electronics and battery systems.
Tesla Seeks Engineer to Test Semi Truck Under Extreme Conditions
Tesla is gearing up to put its all-electric Class 8 vehicle, the Semi, through grueling tests as it continues to innovate in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The company is currently on the lookout for a Senior Test Engineer for Abuse Test & Engineering to join its team in Fremont, California. This hire is aimed at pushing the limits of the Semi’s energy storage and power electronics.
Focusing on Electrically Abusive Scenarios
The new role will focus on a variety of "electrically abusive scenarios" for power electronics and battery systems. These tests aim to understand and predict why these systems might fail during everyday logistics operations. The results will help improve the Semi, which is assembled at Tesla’s facility near its Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada.
Tesla elaborates in the job listing: “In the Abuse Testing & Engineering group, we push energy storage and power electronics to their limits and beyond using specialized equipment to apply electrical, mechanical, and thermal stresses. Our goal is to provide rapid feedback to inform designs early in development by understanding how robust systems perform under abusive conditions.”
Responsibilities and Key Tasks
The responsibilities for this role include:
- Collaborating with electronics and battery pack teams to identify and prioritize testing needs.
- Crafting and executing test plans for scenarios like FET shoot-through, overvoltage, overcurrent, arc flash, electrical joints failure, and conductive fluid exposure.
- Developing sub-pack-scale tests to investigate new failure modes with greater accuracy.
- Designing any new test apparatus required for these tests.
- Anticipating and mitigating hazards associated with test execution.
- Documenting and sharing results for easy reference by other teams.
- Recreating real-world incidents and suggesting preventive measures.
Challenges for Semi Trucks
Semi-trucks are among the most rigorously used vehicles on the road, often racking up over 600 miles daily in various challenging conditions. These vehicles encounter everything from harsh weather to tough terrain, posing multiple operational challenges.
Rolling Out the Semi
While still in its controlled roll-out phase, the Tesla Semi is gradually being incorporated into company fleets. We recently reported on NFI’s use of several Semi trucks, providing valuable insights into its efficiency.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
By continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, Tesla’s rigorous testing methods ensure that its Semi trucks will be better equipped to handle the demands of daily logistics operations.
