As the world tackles eco-challenges, hybrids and electric vehicles have become a leading market. But how does the future hold up for decarbonizing long-hauls? The challenges are real, and here’s the story for U.S. heavy-duty trucks.
The Future Is Bright
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Various companies in logistics and freight are considering electric vehicles to reduce their carbon footprint. The future looks bright, with many EV manufacturers available and capable of building EVs and hybrid variations of trucks. However, the task is a mammoth one.
Keeping up With Cars
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Regular-sized and weight vehicles transition easily from carbon to electric or hybrid. However, heavier vehicles like long-hauls might face extra challenges, but the transition is necessary to reduce the carbon impact on the environment.
Kicking off With a Giant
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According to Time.com, Amazon’s venture is to roll out 10,000 U.S. electric vehicle delivery transportation within their logistics.
Rivian the Choice for Amazon
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Reports also said Amazon chose Rivian as their choice of EV delivery vans. The 10,000 delivery vans will be part of the company’s 100,000 EV delivery fleet goal by 2030.
Who Is Rivian?
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Rivain is an American electric car manufacturer established in 2009. The company says,”… it’s about people coming together with one mission in mind. To protect the planet and its cultures for generations to come.”
Walmart’s Project To Reduce Carbon
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Walmart has also voiced its plans to reduce the carbon footprint of its heavy-haul vehicles for deliveries across the country. According to Time, Walmart is considering decarbonizing all their trucks by 2040.
Walmart’s Choice of EV Manufacturer
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Walmart is reportedly going with eCascadia trucks manufactured by Freightliner, Daimler’s subsidiary. Freightliner specializes in manufacturing long-haul trucks and workhorses. The company has been in business since 1929, and its eCascadia range is the electric variations of their vehicles.
A Significant Challenge
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Lewis Fulton, the director of the energy futures program at the Institute of Transportation Studies and the University of California-Davis, said that converting carbon to EV is going to be challenging.
Trucks Are Harder To Convert Than Cars
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According to Time reports, Lew Fulton said there are challenges to converting carbon trucks to EVs. One is the amount of miles they can get in one charge. Compared to a car, the EV truck won’t be able to get the same number of miles on one charge.
Trucks Need Several Charges Between Destinations
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An electric truck would need you “to charge them a couple of times… It’s lost time,” Fulton said. Fulton shared an example of Rivian trucks having a range of up to 400 miles when the batteries are charged full.
Driving Range Ability Depends on the Battery
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The driving range depends on the type of battery installed. An overnight recharge, for instance, Fulton said, could do half the battery’s capacity.
Major Truck Manufacturers
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There are three major trucking manufacturers in America: Daimler, Navistar, and Volvo. These companies are also reportedly putting their heads together to create an energy-saving system for their long-haul vehicles.
Charging Stations for Large Trucks
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Time has reported that by 2030, at least 600,000 charging stations for long-haul trucks must be installed and fully functioning. While this is a challenging goal, it’s one prominent trucking companies are working on.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
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Hydrogen fuel cells create a fuel source using water, heat, and electricity. Unlike regular carbon-operated vehicles, hydrogen fuel batteries don’t emit carbon pollution. Instead, the batteries allow for a quieter engine and release water instead of carbon gases, Fulton explained.
No Recharge Needed
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The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) explains that hydrogen fuel cells don’t need any charging. According to information from the EERE, hydrogen batteries use the same amount of water as internal combustion engines.
Load Limitations
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Apart from the distance the driver could get from charged batteries, the weight of the load carried also has restrictions. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the laws on load weight vary by state and according to deferral law. 80,000 pounds is the “gross limit.”
Axel Weight Limitations
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As per the Freight Management and Operations regulations, axel weights vary. The weight limitation is 35,000 on a tandem axel and 20,000 on a single axel system.
Verne Is Changing the Game
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Verne is changing the game by creating hydrogen battery cells that support heavy-duty vehicles without the carbon emissions seen in carbon-driven vehicles. Like EV batteries, hydrogen fuel batteries don’t have moving components, leading to a quiet drive.
Zero Carbon Emissions
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Verne is on a mission to put more heavy trucks on the road with lower carbon gas impact through hydrogen cell technology. Using only water, heat, and electricity makes the vehicle more energy-efficient with zero carbon emissions.
Verne CEO Speaks Hopeful Assurance
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Ted McKleevn, Verne’s Chief Executive and Co-founder shares positive goals. He said the company aims to ensure truckers can do a full payload, maintain their range, and refuel time competitively.
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