Electric vs. Diesel Semi-Trucks: The True Cost and Savings

Electric trucks are being considered by transportation companies as the industry advances and moves from traditional diesel to the electric model. As the drive for sustainability gets stronger and the expected low long-run costs are given, it is incumbent that we fully understand the actual costs and savings underlying the transition. In this article, we delve into the true cost of ownership for electric vs. diesel semi-trucks, focusing on equipment costs, maintenance savings, and the overall impact on your bottom line.

Initial Equipment Costs: Electric vs. Diesel Trucks

The initial cost of buying a truck is one of the most significant things fleet operators must evaluate. A simple diesel semi-truck is sold for $120,000 to $150,000, which is the case for many suppliers. An electric semi-truck such as Tesla Semi or any other upcoming model equipped with price tags that range from $300,000 to $400,000 is a completely different story. This great variance in the expenses that need to be made at the beginning is approximately $180,000 to $250,000 more for an electric truck, and that is typically the first obstacle for companies that are considering the swap.

Notwithstanding, purchase price alone is not enough to settle the debate. Over time, electric trucks make an array of potential savings that can be calculated to cover their high purchase price.

Maintenance Savings: The Real Advantage of Electric Trucks

It has come to our attention that electric trucks have become competitive against diesel cars mainly due to their cheaper maintenance costs. A diesel engine is a complete set of machines that must be repaired and maintained regularly because of the moving parts being deteriorated. The annual expenses for servicing a diesel semi-truck range from $15,000 to $20,000 on average. These are costs including oil changes, transmission repairs, exhaust system maintenance, and other regular services.

Conventional cars are those that are largely fueled by gasoline and diesel and have been the most common ones in use. Electric ones are a different type of technology that is powered by electricity as a single fuel source. In this regard, electric trucks are advantageous for the trucker because they use no oil and they have superior brake wear qualities which are provided by their regenerative braking system. This will result to 20-30% lower maintenance costs for electric trucks compared to their diesel counterparts.

For a typical electric truck, the annual maintenance costs can vary from as low as $11,250 to as high as $15,000 and that would explain the estimated annual savings of between $3,750 and $5,000. During the five-year time frame, the accumulation can be between $18,750 and $25,000 for each truck that will stop the cost difference initially and sustain the project.

Total Cost of Ownership Over Time

Thus, a full understanding of the financial implications would be incomplete without a total cost of ownership examination over the life of the truck. Let’s start:

Diesel Truck (5-Year Cost)

- Initial Cost: $135,000 (average)

- Maintenance Costs: $75,000 to $100,000

Total 5-Year Cost: $210,000 to $235,000

Electric Truck (5-Year Cost)

- Initial Cost: $350,000 (average)

- Maintenance Costs: $56,250 to $75,000

Total 5-Year Cost: $406,250 to $425,000

Although the immediate expense is higher, the savings made in maintenance soon start to cover up the initial investment. Nonetheless, over five years, the diesel ones still show a lower total cost of ownership. This computation does not account for the possible savings from fuel which might further support electric vehicles, mainly by fluctuating fuel prices.

Additional Considerations: Fuel Costs, Battery Replacement, and Incentives

Fuel Costs

Electric trucks cost about $1.00 per mile based on current electricity prices, while diesel comes at a cost of $0.67 per mile. The diesel truck for a mileage of 1500-2500 will spend 1005 to 1675 dollars for fuel and the electric one will incur 1500 to 2500 dollars. As a result, It turns out that the weekly costs for electric trucks are higher, which is an extremely important factor to take into account while the total savings are being calculated.

Battery Replacement

Electric trucks may need battery replacements, which can be quite expensive. In the range of $100,000 to $150,000, the user must change a battery if it dies, but most of the manufacturers offer generous warranties which are covering the batteries for up to 1,000,000 miles, so it might not be necessary for a truck in a normal lifecycle.

Charging Infrastructure

Adding charging stations also means more costs. Depending on the established location and ?power requirements, and setup complexity, this can range from $20,000 to $100,000 or more per station. These costs are often overlooked but are essential for planning a transition to electric trucks.

Incentives

Thankfully, the federal, state, and local outsiders do not lack incentives to prevent the switch from happening. In addition to this, the local government does support the electric trucks concept, and it is providing incentives to offset the costs for the buyers who are the first to use them. For buyers, these incentives can range from $30,000 to $100,000 thus making the?

option switch more cost-effective.

Conclusion: Is Switching to Electric Trucks Worth It?

The switch-over to electric semi-trucks from diesel is a complex one full of many different inputs, initial costs, fuel, the maintenance that diesel trucks would otherwise incur and the possible benefits. Although, at first electric trucks are much more expensive, savings on maintenance and the potential for lower fuel prices in the future will be strong arguments in their favor.

The mileage of a vehicle, fuel prices, and the available incentives are the factors to calculate. Through this, the most affordable decision can be made. The latest innovations in technology and the ever-growing electric vehicle infrastructure will soon turn the electric trucks into a cheaper and sustainable variant for the long-distance shipping.

At present, companies need to compare the positive and negative aspects of electric and diesel trucks to come up with a decision that will be best for their fleet and financial future. The move to electric power is inevitable, but the speed of such a transition is subject to a careful consideration of the issues above.