Chinese Electric Truckmakers Eyeing Europe - CleanTechnica
cleantechnica.com
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Europe may not be perfect, but it’s focused much more than most other places on lowering its CO2 emissions. That includes electrifying transport. While passenger cars get most of the attention in that regard, heavy-duty trucking causes a huge amount ... [continued]
  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
    1·
    11 days ago

    I think the only way to electrify trucks to a degree that it makes a difference is through legislation.
    Electric trucks seem to me to have downsides that make them unprofitable compared to diesel, unless legislation shift the economy to favor electric.
    The weight of the battery makes it so a truck can carry less, and it will inevitably have shorter range than a diesel truck.
    So an electric truck can carry less weight for shorter distances, and it’s probably more expensive to make and buy because of the battery.

    I think it will happen eventually, but I’m not aware that anything serious is done in EU to help it along.

    • Ediacarium@feddit.org
      5·
      11 days ago

      In Germany at least, the trucks are cheaper to operate than standard diesel trucks.

      Diesel is more expensive and electric trucks require less maintenance. And they have enough range to drive them at the allowed top speed for trucks on highways (80kph) between the mandatory breaks, where they can then be charged and carry on.

      The big complaint, last time I read about electric trucks being used, was about the charging infrastructure for trucks.