5 Best Upcoming Electric Trucks to Add and Upgrade Your Fleet
For the past decade, many trucks and big rig manufacturers have been devotedly working to make eco-friendly electric vehicles. This is because automobiles and fleets contribute most to environmental pollution through carbon emission. And for a better future, there is a dire need for alternative power sources that are sustainable as well as ergonomic. Some key players in the electric automobile sector like Tesla and Volvo. Tesla and Volvo have already introduced several passenger vehicles that operate on clean sources of power. They have now, in various truck shows, introduced their innovative long and medium-haul heavy and medium-duty trucks. We will be seeing more green big rigs on the roads in the next decade. When you are upgrading to the electric fleet?
Currently, only 1% of fleet vehicles are completely electric. It is estimated that this number will rise to 12% bu 2030.
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Here are the top 5 Best Upcoming Electric Trucks to Add and Upgrade Your Fleet in future:
Freightliner eCascadia:
A product of Daimler trucks, one of the largest truck manufacturers in the world, the Freightliner eCascadia was first launched in 2017. It is a class 8 heavy-duty long-haul electric 18-wheeler commercial vehicle that boasts innovative technology. The improved comfort, fuel-efficiency, and safety on the road are making it the best among the upcoming electric trucks. This electric truck has an increased 35% fuel efficiency (as compared to the older version), and a 250-mile driving range. The Freightliner eCascadia has a 730 horsepower engine with 550 kWh batteries. You can recharge 80% capacity in 90 minutes and cover another 200 miles. As per Daimler trucks, the production will start at Portland, Oregon facility in the second half of 2021.
Nikola One:
Nikola Motors is all set to start production of Nikola One, a class 8 highway tractor with hydrogen-powered battery cell, in 2020. The truck will be available with electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric options, with a range of 500 miles to 700 miles. Because of its hydrogen fuel cell, the Nikola One is 5000 pounds lighter than the upcoming electric trucks that incorporate heavy lithium batteries.
Some of the notable features of Nikola One are: a digital cockpit with 17” touchscreen display, zero-emission solution, twice the faster acceleration as compared to diesel vehicles, and excellent torque vectoring. Nikola One will come to the commercial market in 2028.
Tesla Semi:
Tesla is a leader in EVs (Electric vehicles), and thus when they announced all-electric long-haul, heavy-duty semi-trucks in 2017, it was expected news. The company announced that it will start production of two types of Tesla Semi – one with a 300-mile range and other with about 600-mile range, and it will be equipped with four Model 3-derived electric motors for better and swift acceleration, even while carrying a heavier load. Tesla also claimed that both the Semis will help save more than $200,000 in fuel. Safety features like enhanced autopilot along with driver seating in the center offer maximum visibility and control. As per Tesla, the semi base price will be $150,000 to $180,000 in 2022.
VNR Electric:
Volvo began testing for its battery-electric vehicle called VNR Electric, a part of Low-Impact Green Highway Transport Solution (LIGHTS), on highway roads around Los Angeles since 2019. The production and sales of the VNR FL and VNR FE will begin at the end of 2020. With the travel range of 130-180 miles, the Volvo VNR Electric trucks are good for urban usages like waste collection, delivery transport, consumables and light construction work. The VNR FL weighs 16 tonnes, has a power output of 200 kWh, and takes about 60-90 minutes to charge depending upon the number of batteries (4 or 6). The VNR FE is coming with 4 batteries, chargeable in under an hour, 330 kWh output, and 27-ton weight.
BYD 8TT:
A class 8 day cab by BYD, BYD 8TT is ready to be rolled out in the US by the end of 2020. BYD has a focus on offering short and medium-haul electric vehicles of classes 4 and 6. The BYD 8TT has a range of 125 miles with a top speed of 60mph and has already been deployed by Anheuser-Busch for its South California fleet in 2019.
Future of Electric Trucks
Upcoming electric trucks are definitely more helpful over regular fossil fuel vehicles. Electric big rigs offer silent rides and are cost efficient. This alternate fuel they use has minimal CO2 emission, which is safe for the environment. The only challenge is the time (usually an hour) to recharge the batteries.
Several big fleet companies like LeasePlan, Anheuser-Busch, FedEx, Ryder, Thermo King are inline to have all-electric fleets. The government authorities like California State and New York City are taking the initiative and incorporated electric trucks. You will see electric trucks in several urban requirements like deliveries, sanitation, garbage disposal and more. What do you think, when the electric trucks will take over?
Hydrogen-Powered Charging Stations
The electric big-rig manufacturers like Nikola have already set up hydrogen fueling stations worldwide. By 2028, Nikola has a plan to set up at least 700 such stations across the US. According to Statista, there are approximately 78,500 charging outlets and 25,000 charging stations across the US, as of March 2020. These numbers show the eventual shift in using electric vehicles over diesel and petrol ones.
Why EVs are expensive?
The biggest challenge in manufacturing these vehicles is the cost of batteries. The good news is, several government organizations and private sector companies are coming together to lower the costs. With proper funding, grants and incentives, if the price of batteries keeps reducing with disparity to diesel, the upcoming electric trucks will become an affordable option for fleets.
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GPS Fleet Tracking Solutions provider Matrack Inc. believes in these manufacturers and supports their vision of providing efficient and eco-friendly vehicles. What is your view about these upcoming electric trucks and manufacturers, let us know in the comments.
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