Research from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab shows that electric semi trucks and delivery trucks are less expensive to own and operate than diesel models and they are creating a financial motive for fleet and independent truck owners to demand more electric options from truck manufacturers.
Demand for battery-electric delivery trucks is growing rapidly, particularly in North America with Amazon alone planning to purchase 100,000 vehicles from Rivian during the coming decade.
For most fleet managers, operating costs are the single most critical factor in the choice of a truck, and the new study shows that EVs already have a significant advantage over conventional diesels. Even now, as the first long-haul models come to market, they have about a 13% ownership cost advantage over Class 8 diesels, according to Berkeley National Lab. The gap is expected to widen to as much as 50% by 2030, as the cost of batteries comes down.
“It is very exciting to see that heavy duty trucks can electrify much faster than what is commonly believed,” said Amol Phadke, lead author and staff scientist at Berkeley Lab. “Because electric trucks are already cheaper to own than diesel models, they are creating a financial motive for fleet and independent truck owners to demand more electric options from truck manufacturers.”