Medium and heavy-duty trucks are undergoing electrification, which means that fleets and transport companies can save on fuel and maintenance costs, reduce their carbon footprint, receive tax credits and meet regulations in CARB states—but range anxiety and charger anxiety has some organizations hesitant on making this transition.
Range anxiety describes when a driver fears their electric vehicle (EV) will run out of battery before reaching their destination. Charger anxiety, prevalent in the passenger vehicle space for over a decade, is the concern about the availability and accessibility of charging stations. While Tesla drivers benefit from an expansive Supercharger network, other EV drivers often grapple with this anxiety.
Luckily, you can eliminate anxieties by understanding how electric truck charging best works for transport companies and what’s on the horizon for its infrastructural development.
What are medium and heavy-duty trucks used for?
Medium-duty trucks cater to inner-city local deliveries, last-mile services, and regional mid-haul trips. In contrast, heavy-duty trucks handle regional, drayage, and long-haul deliveries.
How Do You Charge Electric Trucks?
Electric trucks can be charged on private sites, public locations, or contract charging depots and typically receive power from a DC fast charger and medium duty trucks can be charged overnight using Level 2, from 7.6 kWh to 19 kWh.
DC fast chargers receive power by connecting to the electrical grid or an alternative power source.
A site host is the owner or occupant of land where an electric vehicle (EV) charger exists.
According to the US Department of Transportation, charging site hosts commonly represent industries like:
- Popular tourist destinations
- Businesses and institutions
- Transportation facilities (truck fleet depots, airports)
- Community locations (libraries, town hall)
Truck drivers may use these different charging styles:
- Overnight
- Destination
- On-the-move
One solution that hopes to help fleets and drivers find public and contract electric truck charging stations is ZEVLane.com
Overnight Charging
A truck driver parks and powers their vehicle at a hub or depot during overnight charging.
Overnight charging is less expensive than day charging since electrical utility providers offer off-peak rates between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
In turn, overnight truck charging adds more stability to the electrical grid during off-hours while saving fleet owners money.
Electric trucks can charge overnight in six to eight hours on average using 50 to 150 kW of low DC power, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reports.
Destination Charging
Destination charging involves a truck charging while loading or unloading in retail locations, multi-module terminals like ports, and distribution centers.
This charging type can power an electric truck in 30 minutes on average using 150 to 350 kW of DC power, according to ICCT data.
On-The-Move Charging
On-the-move public charging is available day and night, but it’s not currently the best option for electric truckers.
Public infrastructure for charging electrical trucks is growing along highways and urban nodes. Still, it’s less available than traditional gas or diesel stations, possibly requiring a driver to wait in long lines or drive extended distances to find a station.
Electric truck drivers can reduce charge wait time to around 30 minutes when on the move by using higher-power stations up to 1.2 MW, according to Kempower. The maximum average wait time for charging electric trucks in public is eight hours.
Charging on the move during the day also presents varied rates and the possibility of an electrical grid crash during peak usage hours.
What’s on the Horizon for Electric Truck Charging Development?
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is collaborating with other labs to create a megawatt-scale charging system that powers electric truck drivers’ vehicles in less than 30 minutes at a reasonable cost.
This project, labeled 1+ MW, has researchers studying cross-cutting factors influencing the design and optimization of the system, such as:
- High-power conversion equipment
- Grid effects of a multi-port publicly accessible charging station
- Load profiles for medium-haul trucks
- Thermal challenges with cables and connectors
- Expanding site-integrated charging
- Optimal battery-charge-control algorithms
The NREL’s use of real-world truck data and truck volume estimations is developing charge-control techniques for single electric vehicles and charging ports that can power multiple vehicles simultaneously without crashing the electrical grid.
What Are the Benefits of Medium and Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks?
Transportation was responsible for 29% of total US greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to Environmental Protection Agency data.
However, electrical trucks present opportunities to increase public safety while lowering fleet manager’s total ownership costs.
Research shows that shifting to zero-emissions trucking could prevent 66,800 early deaths, 1.75 million asthma attacks, and 8.5 million lost work days between 2020 and 2050, translating to $735 billion in US health benefits.
Electricity remains cheaper than diesel fuel and typically stays at a steady rate, making long electric truck journeys more affordable and predictable.
Trucks with an electric powertrain have regenerative braking, which extends brake life and increases range every time you press the pedal by reversing motors propelling the vehicle, saving fleet managers more money over the long haul.
With driver safety, electric trucks have lower centers of gravity since their motors and batteries exist on the vehicle’s bottom, lowering the likelihood of a rollover.
Challenges Ahead
While electric trucks present numerous advantages, challenges persist. The charging infrastructure needs massive expansion, and electricity prices can vary regionally. Moreover, fleet managers need to consider the initial high costs of electric trucks and the potential need for driver training.
