Electric trucks and smart logistics: an efficient future?

In the continuing drive towards a zero-carbon future on roads, truck fleets are a sector of goods transportation that produces a significant amount of emissions; in Europe, trucks and buses make up 2% of vehicles on the road but account for over a quarter of road transport related CO2 emissions.

The electrification of truck fleets has become a large focus for many governments. However, as some businesses electrify their truck fleets, some are hesitant due to the range of challenges involved.

The driving range, charging speed/efficiency and electricity demand of high power electric trucks represent some factors that are keeping a number of businesses from switching. That said, smart logistics for electric trucks are being developed to overcome these challenges and incentivise businesses to shift to electrification.

What are the main challenges of electric trucks?

Driving range

The driving range on a single charge is a unified challenge for all EVs (electric vehicles); in order to efficiently substitute their combustion predecessors, EVs must be able to fulfil the distance requirements required of fleets and passengers. For electric trucks, this is even more vital, as time spent charging rather than driving directly affects operational efficiency. For context, Volvo’s line of electric trucks showcase an approximate driving range of 300 km at a 30 tonne weight capacity. If this impact is significant enough, fewer businesses will be incentivised to electrify their fleet.

Charging speed and efficiency

In the cases where electric trucks do need to be charged, the speed and efficiency of this charging can directly impact operational efficiency as well. Volvo states that their trucks take approximately 9 hours to reach full capacity with an AC charger, whereas a DC unit takes around 2 hours. For fleets that have trucks in operation for extended periods and drive further than the 300 km limit, for example, charging is valuable time lost on the road.

Required electricity draw

The electrification of vehicles across industries and markets has resulted in a significant toll on global power grids. The UK government has published multiple consultations that outline the stress that EV charging has on the national grid. Without sufficient solutions, high power draw fleets such as electric trucks may lead to a problematic future where infrastructure cannot keep up with the rate of electrification.

Smart logistics – an efficient solution

Smart logistics refers to the use of modern technologies and systems to optimise, enhance and improve the efficiency of an operation. In regards to electric trucks, this involves the use of V2X capabilities, intelligent transport systems (ITS) and tracking to improve the operations of a fleet. Smart logistics can directly aid business owners overcome the challenges they face via the electrification of truck fleets:

• Route optimisation – The ability to track trucks in real-time and communicate with ITS enables operators to optimise and adapt routes on-the-go to minimise the time spent idle. If there is an incident that is blocking a certain road, operators can divert the truck to minimise the impact on the journey and avoid wasting valuable battery charge.
• Battery preconditioning – The charge state and temperature of EV batteries need to be preconditioned and raised during the charging procedure to reduce the overall time spent charging. However, this is a process within itself that takes time. Via smart logistics, electric trucks can communicate with designated charging stations and precondition their battery ahead of time, effectively reducing the time spent charging. This technology is already being used by Tesla, which sets a promising precedent for the future of smart charging.
• Smart charging – In light of the various studies into the impact charging has on the national grid, the UK government has published a smart charging action plan that incentivises businesses to charge their trucks overnight. This plan sets a designed overnight period where trucks can charge, which is both cheaper for businesses and utilises green energy. Moreover, V2G technology enables businesses to send energy back to the grid once their trucks are fully charged.

Get expert advice on fleet electrification

With the integration of smart logistics, commercial fleet businesses have greater incentives to transition towards electrification. Smart charging, battery preconditioning and route optimisation all provide owners with the peace of mind that the loss of operational efficiency is minimised whilst carbon emissions are eliminated.

At Dalroad, we provide independent, unbiased advice on EV infrastructure and charging technology to benefit your project. To find out more about how we can help your specific EV project, contact a member of our team today.