Some 35 years ago, when "Back to the Future" came out, most of us didn't believe that one-day gadgets like personal drones, hoverboards, smart clothing, and devices with biometrical data would ever be in use.
History, however, proved us wrong.
Like when a horse raced against a locomotive during the Industrial Revolution, many doubted the efficiency of the new technology until they saw its many benefits.
2020 marked the testing of self-driving long-haul vehicles and thus made two things clear: We are going back to the future once again, and it will happen sooner than expected.
Electric and self-driving semi-trucks will transform the market inevitably.
While they might be years before 18-wheeler drivers are absent from the road, the big electric rigs are already here.
Freightliner is already testing a fleet of 40 electrical rigs, with its eCascadia in production in late 2022. Freightliner eCascadia has power ranging from 360 to 525 hp and a GVWR of 82,000 pounds.
With a battery capacity of up to 475 kWh (approximately five Tesla Model S sedans) and a range of 250 miles is perfect for short-haul, last-mile logistics. Volvo Trucks is also advancing its electric manufacture, announcing a record order of 110 electric trucks to be delivered by early next year. Just imagine ramping your fleet with electric semis and completing an entire route on electric power only.
It all sounds so good, especially with the current gas and diesel prices, but fleets meet many challenges when it comes to electric rigs. First, the supply of electric trucks can't meet the demand, and the cost is almost 2 to 3 times as much as the cost of a diesel truck.
The infrastructure is the next stumbling rock. "There's no question that we are nearing the point where infrastructure will become the barrier and the impediment to electric truck adoption.", says Britta Gross, managing director of the Carbon Free Mobility Program at RMI.
A significant piece of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aka the infrastructure bill, is funding to promote electric vehicle (EV) ownership, including infrastructure to support EVs and the country's electric grid.
According to the White House, the funds will build a network of at least 500K electric vehicle charging stations strategically distributed around the country.
