This Week in EV: Charging Trucks

Before we kick off this week just a note that there'll be no This Week in EV next week as I’ll be on the beach. We kick off this week with the news that Shell has opened its first electric truck charging station in the UK at the Markham Moor Truck Stop in Nottinghamshire. This site, located along the busy A1 route, is a significant step in supporting the growing number of electric trucks on UK roads. The station features a 400 kW DC charger capable of charging two electric trucks simultaneously, providing a fast and efficient solution for fleet operators. The site can accommodate over 8,000 HGVs per day, although currently only around 300 electric trucks operate in the UK. To streamline operations for fleet managers, Shell offers a “Book and Charge” reservation system, allowing drivers to secure charging slots in advance and minimise downtime. Its great to see infrastructure for electric trucking and with Gridserve building the Electric Freightway it won’t take long for the infrastructure for trucking to exist across the country.

Sticking with electric trucking J.B. Hunt has launched its first all-electric aftermarket semi-truck route in Arizona in collaboration with Daimler Truck North America (DTNA). The route will utilise the Freightliner eCascadia, a battery-electric semi-truck, to deliver parts from DTNA's Phoenix parts distribution centre to nearby dealerships. Covering around 100 miles per day, the route is perfect for electric trucking. The eCascadia, already deployed in other regions like the Pacific Northwest and Mexico, is part of DTNA’s broader strategy to incorporate electric trucks into its supply chain. A dedicated Detroit eFill charger has been installed at the Phoenix facility to support this electric fleet with more routes to go electric in the future.

Chinese automaker Maxus has launched Europe’s first all-wheel-drive electric pickup, the eTerron 9, at the IAA Transportation event in Hanover. This electric pickup offers a 267-mile range powered by a 102 kWh battery and with the ability to recharge from 20% to 80% in about 40 minutes. The eTerron 9, slightly larger than a Ford Ranger but smaller than a Ford F-150 Lightning and it features a dual-motor setup producing 442 hp, allowing it to tow up to 7,700 lbs and carry a payload of 620 kg. Orders for the eTerron 9 open in October 2024, with deliveries starting in early 2025.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced more than $3 billion in grants for 25 projects aimed at boosting domestic battery production and reducing reliance on imports. These projects span across 14 states and focus on advancing battery materials, manufacturing, and recycling as part of the Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Program, which has a total budget of $16 billion. The initiative is designed to strengthen the U.S. battery supply chain, create high-paying jobs, support the clean energy transition and move away from any reliance on China for EV production. Companies like Ascend Elements, Group14 Technologies, and Sila Nanotechnologies are among the recipients of this funding. These investments are expected to generate over 8,000 construction jobs and more than 4,000 operational jobs, many of which will be high-paying union positions, contributing to the U.S.'s efforts to lead in battery technology and innovation. This is how you push forward a green agenda and our new Labour government should take note!

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