Is the future of haulage really electric?

The days of vehicles consuming petrol and diesel are now numbered because of the huge amount of damage that they can do for the environment. Many more cars on the road are now electric because they are viewed as being better for the planet as well as being cheaper to run.

However, when it comes to haulage, the switch to electric has been slower, as this is one area where expense and efficiency have stood in the way.

With the UK government bringing in new legislation to prevent the sale of vehicles which run on fossil fuels, it seems apparent that the haulage industry is going to need to make a change very soon ion order to keep up.

In this article, Walker Movements look at what the future holds for the haulage industry, and whether you can all expect to be driving an electric truck sooner or later or whether this is still just a pipe dream.

Benefits of electric trucks

One of the biggest benefits of an electric truck is its impact on the environment. No matter how we look at it, trucks are heavy polluters, going through gallons of fuel each week and pumping emissions out into the atmosphere. Electric trucks offer a cleaner and greener solution that will be better in the fight against climate change and can help to improve the air quality in built up areas.

We have all watched as diesel prices have risen to quite frightening levels over the last few years, with many haulage businesses wondering how long they could afford to keep fuelling their own trucks. Electric trucks present much lower running costs than their diesel guzzling equivalents not only due to the lower fuel costs, but also the reduction in maintenance.

The distant rumble of a truck in the distance has become a familiar sound, but it is not a very pleasant one, particularly at night. Electric trucks are virtually silent, making them much more pleasant to have on the roads, whether it is in the middle of the day or the dead of night.

At the moment, the government is trying to encourage more and more people to switch to electric vehicles, including the haulage industry, which means that there are grants and incentives available. Currently, some trucks can be sold at a 20% discount. Small trucks (N2 vehicles) can have £16,000 taken off its list price if it has C02 emissions 50% less than the equivalent Euro VI vehicle and can travel at least 60 miles without any emissions.

For large trucks (N3 vehicles) there is a discount of £25,000 under the same stipulations, although it is worth remembering that this only applies to certain makes and models of vehicles, so you should check the approved list first.

Disadvantages of electric trucks

Whilst electric trucks seem like the perfect solution to a global problem, until now, the reality has not always shown this to be the case. The truth is that electric trucks can be extremely expensive and so many hauliers are only making the switch when one of their existing fleet goes out of action, and even then, it can still seem out of reach.

Another concern has been the range of these trucks. A heavy vehicle filled with a heavy load will use a lot of power, and so the range will be somewhat limited. If the solution to this was a quick pitstop to refuel then more haulage companies might have made the move, but recharging electric batteries can take time, and this is time that most companies and lorry drivers simply do not have in their schedule.

The future of electric HGVs

When the first electric cars were produced, they had a number of problems attached to them, but these have all now been ironed out, making them one of the most popular new car choices. This will also be the case in the haulage industry, as many manufacturers are working hard to produce electric trucks that meet the needs of businesses.

There is a lot of focus on battery technology and charging infrastructure, meaning that trucks will be able to travel further and find it quicker and easier to recharge than ever before.

The UK government has set targets to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in the next few years. In fact, it aims to end the sale of them for good by 2030, and all cars and vans will need to have zero emissions at their tailpipes by 2035.

This legislation also applies to vehicles up to 26 tonnes, whilst those which are bigger will have until 2040. This means that the haulage industry will very much become reliant on electric power in the not-too-distant future.

One of the first UK- based electric truck manufacturer has created a 7.5 tonne truck which currently has a range of 141 miles and is now ready to go into production. Some of the more established truck manufacturers are also throwing their efforts into electric technology as they rush to keep up with the needs of the planet and government legislation.

Big names such as Scania are developing trucks which can boast ranges of 186 miles after just an hour of charging, and this technology is only set to develop further as more and more throw their weight behind it. DAF are at the forefront of electric truck development in Europe and they seeming to be aiming for ranges of 310 miles, which seem like a much more practical option for the average lorry.

Over time, charging times will decrease and battery capacities will increase, making electric powered haulage a practical option. Whilst hydrogen has also been cited as a green alternative for power, we are a long way from this being a viable option as the infrastructure is not yet in place for this to become a reality. The industry is now gathering speed and it seems as though the future for the haulage industry really does look to be electric.

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