The Electrifying Road Ahead

EV trucking is an emerging trend that is gaining traction due to government initiatives, technological advancements, and the significant advantages it offers over diesel trucks. Electric trucks are being increasingly used in the transport industry to reduce carbon emissions and tackle greenhouse gas emissions. The market for electric trucking has grown considerably in recent years due to government subsidies, investments in charging infrastructure, and incentives for businesses to switch from diesel trucks. As a result, many diesel trucks are being replaced with electric and hybrid passenger and small commercial vehicles.

The global electric truck market is estimated to reach $88.5 billion by 2026, driven by the transport industry's urgent need to reduce its carbon emissions. Electric trucks offer a viable alternative to commercial diesel vehicles that emit harmful pollutants, and the emissions promise of electric vehicles has been driving growth in the sector. Moreover, government initiatives that are supportive of electric vehicles have been encouraging companies to invest in electric trucks. These initiatives include tax credits for purchasing electric vehicle batteries and grants for charging infrastructure investments.

Major trucking manufacturers such as Daimler, Tesla, Volvo, and Paccar have all begun to release electric vehicles. Schneider National, for instance, has already begun to adopt electric vehicles into its fleets. Some states have even started offering incentives for companies who opt for electric trucking solutions such as grants and tax breaks, making the transition from traditional diesel-powered vehicles to electric ones even easier for companies in the industry.

Electric trucks are becoming more affordable and with less maintenance costs, they can help reduce the carbon emissions of the trucking industry. Forum Mobility, for example, has made a major contribution to the transition to electric semi-trucks by providing a one-stop shop for long haul trucking. With their range of solutions, they have enabled electrification within the high logistics sector with lower maintenance costs and lower carbon emissions.

The electric truck industry is making great strides in terms of battery energy density and waterproofing, but the challenge will be in accelerating the adoption of these zero-emission trucks. Business innovation and the right policy incentives are key to making this happen. Policy wins in diesel-heavy states such as California are essential for continued improvements and technology development, helping bring down costs and reach cost parity with diesel trucks.

Requiring truck manufacturers to produce zero emissions trucks will help the industry achieve EU’s climate targets. Most conventional trucks, buses, and heavy-duty vehicles need to be replaced with electric vehicles in order to reduce emissions significantly. To make these changes happen, the sale of EVs needs to increase substantially. The resources board should provide incentives for businesses to purchase EV technology for their haul and drayage fleets.

In conclusion, the future of electric trucking looks very promising. Competitive battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are poised to play a major role in both long-haul and smaller trucks, while fuel cell trucks will excel in heavy truck applications. As BEVs become more cost-competitive, making battery electric versions of the heavier trucks feasible, e fuels can be used for those that prefer them. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working on increasing mileage for electric vehicles and improving battery technology to make long-haul transport even more efficient. This will help reduce maintenance costs, which is a significant part of the total cost of ownership over the long term, an advantage that battery electric vehicles have over their diesel counterparts.

Cited Sources

• https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/electric-truck-market-A06183 

• https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2022/10/04/accelerating_the_future_of_trucking_and_electric_transportation_857171.html 

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• https://hktruck.com/the-electrification-of-trucking-the-future-is-now/ 

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/02/01/how-electric-transportation-is-impacting-the-trucking-industry/ 

• https://www.mpofcinci.com/blog/whats-the-future-of-electric-vehicles-in-trucking/ 

• https://blog.fleetcomplete.com/how-will-electric-vehicles-impact-the-trucking-industry 

• https://business.edf.org/insights/why-2023-is-the-year-for-companies-to-join-the-electric-truck-transition/ 

• https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/why-the-future-of-long-haul-trucking-is-electric/ 

• https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/17/factsheet-why-the-future-of-long-haul-trucking-is-battery-electric/