WoodMac: 54,000 Electric Trucks on US Roads by 2025
There were just over 2,000 electric trucks on U.S. roads at the end of 2019. This stock is expected to grow to over 54,000 by 2025, according to new analysis from Wood Mackenzie.
Compared to passenger electric vehicle (EV) and electric bus penetration levels, the electric truck market is still in its infancy. But the need to electrify the sector is clear: Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MDV/HDV) are the second largest contributor to U.S. transportation emissions.
Thus far, MDV/HDV emissions-reduction efforts have largely centered on new diesel technologies and hybrids rather than pure electrification. But over the next five years that will begin to change as all-electric trucks become more widespread.
'Exponential increase' in charging infrastructure
The number of MDV/HDV electric charging units in the U.S. is also expected to increase exponentially over WoodMac's forecast period.
There were roughly 2,000 electric truck charging outlets in the U.S. in 2019. This number will to rise to 48,000 by 2025.
Electric truck charging can be achieved using the same approaches as electric buses: with plug-in, wireless and overhead chargers. Plug-in charging at freight facilities is the primary charging method in use today, while wireless and overhead charging specifically for electric trucks are still in the testing phase.
Planning for this huge growth in electric truck charging infrastructure needs to take into consideration the size of the electric fleet, hardware and installation costs, charging technologies and battery size.
Unique requirements for electric truck charging
Electric trucks have a few distinctive considerations when it comes to charging. The range of most commercially available electric trucks is sufficient for their current applications (<300 miles). Since over 68 percent of city and regional Class 8 trucks are parked for more than 6 hours each day, many electric trucks may be able to rely on Level 2 chargers. Electric trucks with larger batteries or shorter dwell times will likely require DC fast chargers to satisfy their charging needs.
Chargers can be installed at truck parking spaces like how public chargers are sited today. However, trucks also spend significant amounts of time at loading docks and these tight spaces typically do not have room for a charger. Spaces like this will likely have to be redesigned to accommodate chargers.
To minimize costs associated with installation, chargers for the MDV/HDV segment should be sited near the transformer and load panel. Chargers located in parking lots may require extra conduit and trenching expenses.
Volvo LIGHTS
Although there are barriers to the mass adoption of electric trucks and the necessary charging infrastructure, the industry is working to combat these.
One example of this is the the Volvo Low Impact Green Heavy Transport...
