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Battery Electric Semi Truck

Charles Dubouix Last update 24/11/2023

Alternative Energy: Battery Electric Semi Truck

Key take-aways

Powering the truck with electricity instead of fossil fuels can yield up to 80% reduction of emissions per trip in France, while completely eliminating tailpipe emissions.

The cost is higher for shippers, mostly because the market is nascent and not yet mature.

Electric trucks are suited for short distance, round-trips under 300km due to the limited battery autonomy.

Going Further

E-Trucks are far less emissive than diesel counterparts throughout their lifespan. Although the battery production is very emissive compare to diesel truck manufacturing, they quickly repay their "ecological debt" if they consume decarbonized electricity.

In France, life cycle analysis estimate a 80% reduction in GHG emissions compared to traditional diesel vehicles.

Based on ICCT 2023 Life-Cycle GHG emissions of European Heavy Duty Vehicles

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The environmental performance is highly dependent on the electricity country of origin The same electric truck used in Germany will emit twice as much as if it were used in France (in life cycle analysis). In 2022, the carbon intensity of 1 kWh produced in France was around 68 gCO2e while 1 kWh produced in Germany emitted 366 gCO2e!

Suitable for short trips

Operating from Le Havre, the electric trucks can make deliveries in a 150km radius from the port due to the battery limitations.

For longer distances B100 and Combined Transport are more suited.

Going electric requires investments from carriers resulting in surcharges

The supply of Electric Trucks is very low, in 2022 only 0,30% of Heavy trucks sold were electric and there are reasons for that:

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High Initial Cost: The significant upfront expense of electric heavy trucks, driven by the cost of batteries, can make them less appealing compared to traditional diesel trucks.

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Limited Use Cases: The constrained operational range of electric heavy trucks, coupled with an underdeveloped charging infrastructure, poses challenges for long-haul transportation.

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Lack of Flexibility: A limited selection of electric heavy truck models restricts options for fleet managers, potentially impeding the adoption of electric trucks that meet specific operational requirements.

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Technological Uncertainty: Hesitation to adopt electric trucks stems from concerns about rapid technological advancements and the potential for newer, more advanced models in the near future.

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Electric Trucking @ OVRSEA Carrier: Wheeltainer Operating Routes:

Pre and post-carriage of FCL via LEH (Le Havre, France) for locations in a 150 km radius
Other routes can be launched — please get in touch your OVRSEA point of contact

Comparative assessment	Diesel Semi-Truck	Electric Semi-Truck
Exhaust Emissions	❌ NOx, PM, SOx, CO	✅ None
Life-Cycle emissions	❌ High	✅ Up to 80% reduction with the French electricity mix
Daily Driving Range	✅ 500-1000	❌ 300-500
Total Cost of Ownership	✅ Moderate	❌ High (will be lower for 2030 models)

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Well done! You know all about Electric Trucks! 💪 Keep on learning on alternative fuels 🗺️ Go back to the Academy

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Sources