Electric Trucks and Charging Solutions: The Future of Commercial Transport

The electrification of passenger transport is progressing rapidly. Commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, are also entering this field. Automotive companies are exploring this direction, sometimes offering heavy-duty highway trucks. Let's look at the most interesting models and delve into the future and the past. We will also examine the current situation with electric truck infrastructure and charging solutions for electric trucks.

History of Electric Trucks

Electric trucks are not just a trend of today. In the early 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, electric drivetrains were considered simpler and more optimal than internal combustion engines. Long-distance transportation was not yet a topic of discussion. However, electric trucks were widely used for delivery. Some manufacturers, such as the American Walker Electric, specialized in electric trucks.

Models of Walker Electric from 1909-1938

In England, delivery electric trucks were produced after World War II and used until the 1990s. These were small vehicles delivering ice cream, milk, and other fast food items of the time.

Models from the British Company Brush

The internal combustion engine seriously displaced the electric motor in the design offices: some work was ongoing, but without any hope of mass production.

New Times – New Names?

However, the construction of electric trucks never stopped; it just took on limited forms. For example, the British company Smith made compact vans used in delivery services or helped various organizations with logistics.

In 2006, the British introduced a new development – Newton trucks with a payload of 6,614 to 16,535 pounds. They acquired the chassis and cab from the Czech company Avia. The 120 kW motor was powered by lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 80 and 120 kWh, providing a range of 56 to 112 miles.

In 2010, VIA Motors was organized in the USA, with their first work being the electrified Chevrolet Silverado. Later, they introduced an electrified chassis with a payload of up to 11,023 pounds.

Other companies followed a similar path: using a fuel vehicle base and installing electric components. For example, the Dutch company GINAF, known for its multi-axle chassis, now produces an electric truck based on the MB Atego. The firm Emoss, also from the Netherlands, creates fully electric trucks based on small DAF models.

Under the brand Framo, founded a few years ago in Germany, MAN TGS trucks are converted to electric power. Swiss company Designwerk under the Futuricum brand initially released an electric Volvo FM and recently the Mercedes Econic. And there are many such examples.

Typically, such vehicles can travel 62-124 miles on a single charge. They are relatively expensive ($65,000-$81,000 for vans, often using Asian components) but quickly pay for themselves due to significant fuel savings.

Another approach involved building the vehicle from scratch. This was done by Workhorse Group Inc. Their N-Gen Electric Van, introduced in 2017, has a composite body, an 80 kWh battery, four motor-wheels with a total power of 16 kW, and a range of approximately 99 miles per charge.

Light Commercial Vehicles from Traditional Brands

Traditional automakers also entered the electric commercial vehicle market, albeit later. Almost all brands producing commercial vans now have electric versions. These include: Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, VW e-Crafter, Opel Vivaro-e, Citroen e-Jumpy, Peugeot e-Rifter.

Battery capacities for these models range from 33 to 100 kWh, significantly varying the driving range. The latest models from Citroen/Peugeot/Opel offer over 186 miles, while the eSprinter exceeds 248 miles. These vehicles have payloads of 1,102-2,205 pounds and cost around $54,000, making them more economical than those from smaller startups.

Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks

Heavy-duty electric trucks face more complex design challenges. They require high-capacity, energy-efficient batteries for substantial payload and decent range. Despite this, there has been significant progress. Five years ago, models like the MAN TGS Electric, Mercedes eActros, and Volvo FL Electric had ranges of 81-93 miles. Today, they achieve 217-310 miles per charge.

A notable example is the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, going into mass production this year. With a total weight of 88,185 pounds, it can travel over 310 miles on a single charge with a 600 kWh battery pack, charging from 20 to 80% in half an hour using a 1 MW fast charger.

In North America, Freightliner, a Daimler subsidiary, is electrifying its range. The delivery e-M2 and tractor e-Cascadia are being tested by transport companies. The e-M2 can travel 230 miles, and the e-Cascadia up to 248 miles.

Tesla's electric semi truck, the Semi, makes a significant impact with its futuristic design, autopilot, four motor-wheels, and a range of 248-497 miles. Initial units have been delivered to PepsiCo, with other clients like Walmart, UPS, and Anheuser-Busch eagerly awaiting their orders.

In fact, commercial transport in Europe, North America, and China is already becoming electric. By 2030, one in three new trucks in these crucial automotive markets will be powered by electricity. By 2035, electric trucks will dominate, accounting for over 70% of sales. This is a key forecast from a study by the international consulting and auditing firm PwC.

One of the leaders in promoting electric trucks is the American e-commerce giant Amazon. The company aims to make its entire business climate-neutral by 2040. As part of this goal, Amazon will invest €1 billion in the decarbonization and electrification of its European fleet over the next five years. Currently, approximately 3,000 electric commercial vehicles and vans deliver goods ordered by European customers. By 2025, this number will more than triple, exceeding 10,000 units. Additionally, Amazon plans to purchase over 1,500 heavy electric trucks in the coming years to deliver goods to its logistics centers.

Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks

Light commercial vehicles can use standard charging stations. However, electric trucks need powerful stations, starting from 300 kW. Governments and businesses are already installing these stations and developing charging infrastructure programs.

In Europe, charging stations for trucks have been actively installed since 2021-2022. Initiators include fuel companies like bp and automakers like Volvo Group and Daimler Trucks, forming Milence to install over 1,700 stations across Europe by 2027. The EU currently has several dozen such stations. In the USA, as of 2024, there are 92 stations capable of servicing trucks, with plans to cover nearly 12,427 miles of highways and key ports by 2027.

The power of charging stations for trucks typically ranges from 300 to 400 kW. However, this is not the limit. Currently, Daimler is working on creating a 1 MW device that could quickly charge its Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. Additionally, since last year, Scania and ABB have been testing a new charging standard, the MCS (Megawatt Charging System), which is capable of charging trucks at 3.75 MW! This development is expected to be commercially available this year.

The Role of GO TO-U in Electric Truck Fleet Management

The complexity of electric truck charging infrastructure involves more than just power requirements. Efficient management is also crucial. Fleet dispatchers must plan routes with charging stops, allocate vehicles to stations, and more. Solutions like GO TO-U offer software that provides all necessary tools for managing electric truck fleets from a single interface. This includes real-time data, detailed reports, and the ability to book charging stations in advance, ensuring efficient operations and reducing costs.

GO TO-U provides comprehensive information about each vehicle, including kWh consumed, battery charge percentage, charging speed, and costs. This platform helps effectively manage electric truck fleets, optimizing key operations and reducing operating expenses. As the number of electric trucks in operation increases, these solutions will become increasingly in demand.

Conclusion

The electric truck market is evolving similarly to the passenger EV segment. Although progress is slower due to greater complexity, environmental and financial benefits are driving this shift forward. In a few years, electric trucks and their charging stations will become a common sight on roads worldwide.