by Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common on our roads. While electric cars are becoming mainstream, electric trucks are also emerging as a viable zero-emission alternative for commercial fleets. With stricter emission regulations and growing concerns about climate change, many businesses are looking to transition their fleets to electric trucks.
Benefits of Electric Trucks
Lower Operating Costs
One of the major appeals of electric trucks for businesses is their lower operating costs compared to diesel trucks. Electric trucks have fewer moving parts, so maintenance and repair costs tend to be lower over the lifetime of the vehicle. More importantly, electricity is significantly cheaper than diesel fuel on a cost-per-mile basis. With fuel being one of the largest expenditures for commercial fleets, the fuel savings of electric trucks can go a long way. Some studies estimate that electric trucks can save fleets up to $20,000 or more per vehicle annually in fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel counterparts. For large commercial fleets, the savings really add up.
Better Performance
In addition to cost savings, electric trucks also offer performance benefits. Electric motors provide maximum torque instantly, so electric trucks tend to have quicker acceleration and more power available, especially at lower speeds. This can be useful for applications like stop-and-go urban delivery routes that require frequent accelerating and decelerating. The lack of gear changes in an electric powertrain also makes for a smoother ride. Some models even offer enhanced capabilities like the ability to tow or haul heavier loads up hills compared to diesel trucks of the same size. Overall, the driving experience of electric trucks is quieter, smoother, and more responsive.
Lower Emissions and Public Health Benefits
While the economic argument of electric trucks is certainly compelling, the environmental benefits are arguably even more important. Diesel trucks produce significant greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change as well as particulate matter and other air pollutants linked to public health issues. A transition to zero-emission electric trucks would represent an important step in reducing transportation sector emissions. Areas with air quality problems stand to gain the most, as electric trucks can help reduce ground level ozone, asthma rates, and other adverse health outcomes associated with diesel exhaust. Many local and state governments are offering incentives for Electric Truck adoption specifically for these public health benefits.
Incentive Programs Boosting Adoption
As awareness of these advantages grows, major corporations and government programs are working to accelerate electric truck adoption. In the US, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law in November 2021 included $7.5 billion to expand the national electric vehicle charging network. This will support increased utilization of electric trucks over longer distances.California and New York have also committed billions to transitioning public fleets and school buses to electric models. On the fleet owner side, companies like Amazon, IKEA, Anheuser-Busch and Walmart have pledged to electrify significant portions of their delivery truck operations in the coming years.
International markets are also adopting electric trucks rapidly with strong policy backing. Countries like China, Germany and Norway offer attractive financial incentives, often covering 30-50% of the additional upfront vehicle costs. This has seen a boom in electric truck pilot projects and deployments across Europe in particular over the past five years. As costs continue falling and more real-world data demonstrates the advantages, industry experts foresee accelerated growth globally through the 2020s. Government programs are helping to prove the technology and ease fleet operator concerns around things like vehicle capabilities and resale values.
Realizing the Electric Truck Vision
While the momentum behind electric trucks is building quickly, fully achieving their potential still faces several challenges that automakers, policymakers and fleet owners are working to solve:
Range and Charging Infrastructure – Range remains a barrier for some applications, though it is improving rapidly as battery technology advances. Routes must be carefully analyzed, and deployment of adequate fast-charging infrastructure will be crucial to enable widespread electric truck utilization, especially for long-haul applications. Early electric truck deployments have centered around regional haul and urban delivery routes where range is less of an issue. However, as batteries continue advancing, we are likely to see electric trucks tackle longer routes that were previously unfeasible in the near future.
Upfront Vehicle Costs – Even with generous incentives, electric trucks currently command higher sticker prices than diesel options due to battery costs. This makes the upfront investment harder for some fleets to absorb, though total cost of ownership studies show payback periods of only a few years. As battery manufacturing scales up globally and new lower-cost chemistries emerge, vehicle costs should continue dropping and accelerating electrification across the industry.
Integration with Renewable Energy – Powering electric fleets with renewable sources like solar and wind will be key to maximizing their environmental and decarbonization impact. Infrastructure for truck fleet charging will need to be intelligently managed and potentially paired with on-site renewable generation where possible. Technology and optimization of charging management systems will facilitate renewable energy integration over time.
With each passing year, electric trucks are overcoming these challenges better and gaining stronger adoption momentum in key markets worldwide. Looking ahead, the prospects for electric trucks to transform long-haul transportation and help deliver zero-emission shipping, package delivery, waste management and more seems well within reach this decade. Their benefits are spurring a revolution in fleet operations that is set to substantially reduce emissions from commercial transportation at a critical time. Electric trucks appear poised to truly claim their stake as the future of work vehicles.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
