Until recently, truck manufacturers have focused on bringing electric light commercial vehicles to market. However, increasing international pressure to reduce truck emissions and advances in battery technology have led manufacturers to develop electric medium and heavy trucks. Will electric trucks be on European roads by 2019?
Let’s discover what start-ups and Europe’s Big Seven truck manufacturers have announced recently.
Public interest in electric trucks rocketed in November 2017 when Elon Musk, founder of global electric vehicle start-up Tesla, presented his plans for the launch of an all-electric Tesla Semi truck. The Tesla truck comes complete with an ‘autopilot’ function that can provide driver assistance with semi-autonomous driving and safety over long distances.
Tesla claims that, due to fewer systems onboard to maintain, the Tesla Semi can save fuel costs of over $200,000 over a two-year period.
The Tesla Semi will be available in two versions, one with a battery that needs to be recharged after approx. 300 miles (482 km; expected base price £110,000 or €125,000) and another after 500 miles (804 km; expected base price £140,000 or €159,000). Those who have ordered a Tesla Semi can expect delivery in 2019. (source: ZDNet) UPS has pre-ordered 125 Teslas (source: TTNews).
Other examples of electric truck start-ups, this time in Europe, include:
Swedish start-up Einride has deedish start-up Einrideveloped a fully electric, windowless and autonomous truck, the “T-Pod” which has a range of 200 km and could start delivering goods this autumn. The “T-Pod” has been likened to “containers on wheels”. Two German companies, Lidl, the food chain and Schenker, the logistics company have placed orders already. (source: Nordic Business Insider)
Unable to find the electric trucks it needed, Deutsche Post created its own electric truck manufacturing subsidiary StreetScooter. It has already produced 6,000 eLCVs which Deutsche Post uses in urban areas. StreetScooter has opened a second factory to build electric trucks in different formats. (source: CleanTechnica)
Management consultants McKinsey estimate that electric long-haul trucks will be cost equivalent to diesel trucks by 2028 if battery technology improves consistently at its current rate and that by 2030, electric trucks will account for up to 15 percent of global sales. (source: Nordic Business Insider)
Yes. There will be a reasonable selection of electric medium and heavy trucks to choose from in Europe in 2019 with some available before then.
TIP will offer electric trucks through rental or leasing as the market matures, possibly in 2019. Meanwhile, it can provide eLCVs on a short-term rental of less than a year or on a long-term leasing basis (1 to 10 years). The long-term lease includes maintenance and repair. Customers benefit from TIP’s extensive fleet management experience, its network of workshops across Europe that can service electric vehicles; its expertise in telematics and remote access maintenance; reporting.
TIP can buy conventional LCVs and dispose of them as part of a part-exchange option. For more information on how you can experience electric delivery through TIP’s eLCV offer, please contact your local TIP Trailer Services manager using this form.
2018/08/03
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