The World of Electric Trucking

California has truly been at the forefront of regulations regarding electric/low-emission trucking regulations for quite some time. California is trying to push for all vehicles in the state to make the move towards being electric, and this means that truckers must do the same. The legislation states that by 2035, all vehicles that move goods - whether that be via rail, train or road - must be zero-emission vehicles. This really puts the pressure on big players in the trucking industry to make the switch for their fleet. Any new equipment purchased by the companies must be an electric model or be powered using hydrogen fuel cells.

It seems as though our province has been inspired by this push for a cleaner trucking industry, as they have begun the process of putting similar measures in place. The precise regulations regarding the switch towards EVs in Québec have yet to be finalized and will probably only be released next year, so companies still have some time with regards to strategically planning the switch towards a more eco-friendly fleet.

The Québec Ministry of the Environment has begun conducting studies in order to determine how to best roll out this initiative in Québec. They will be doing test runs with electric trucks between Montréal and Québec City in order to be able to present quantifiable data. This is in order to account for a range of changes that must be considered when converting from traditional to electric trucks, including changes in load and truck weight, considerable price differentials and more.

Globally, most of us are taking the steps to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions to the best of our abilities, and it is promising to see the industry trying to make the same stark shift. Though there will be many obstacles that the government, companies and drivers will have to work through together, ultimately this marks a major shift in a high-pollution industry.