September 28, 2023 How Close Are We to Electric HGVs?

An outlook of the electric HGV market in 2023 with a focus on their overall viability in the future.

The electric vehicle revolution is now in full swing, and we are seeing more and more electric vehicles on the roads every day thanks to the push to take better care of the environment and meet net zero targets.

However, whilst there has been great success in moving car owners away from the internal combustion engine and towards battery power, the HGV market has been slower to progress. This is because vehicles of this size which are required to travel long distances present a different set of challenges that have proved harder to overcome.

As HGVs are still considered to be some of the biggest polluters on the roads, it is important that they are also able to become part of the green revolution and move towards electric power. So, is this something that is still just a distant dream, or are we closer than we think?

The current HGV outlook

At the moment, HGVs make up around 19% of the total domestic transport emissions in the UK. Initially, a deadline had been set to phase out the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 and all hybrids by 2035, with HGVs set to follow suit by 2040 in an effort to reach net zero in carbon emissions. However, Rishi Sunak has recently announced changes to this plan, moving the deadline for cars and vans to 2035.

We are all aware of the environmental impact that a switch to electric vehicles can have, and they can also help to comply with the low carbon emission zones and the new ULEZ restrictions. However, as electric trucks are still in their infancy, they can be very expensive, making it difficult for hauliers to make the switch at the moment. Investing in a new or replacement fleet is a huge commitment, especially when many of the electric trucks that are currently available still have work to do to make them a practical option and a viable replacement for what is currently in use.

So, with the clock ticking on the countdown to abolish non-electric HGVs, how achievable does this look?

Charging cables

As the owner of any electric vehicle knows, the biggest headache is charging. Whilst chargers are becoming more common, they are still not as readily available as petrol pump, and they can take a significant amount of time to fill a battery up from nothing. This has been one of the biggest challenges in the development of electric HGVs, as these enormous beasts need huge amounts of battery power and cannot afford to spend hours at a time off the road while they re-charge.

A pilot scheme has therefore been introduced by the government to install an e-highway on the M180, providing a network of overhead wires, similar to tram wires, that can automatically connect to electric trucks and charge them whilst they are on the move. This might seem like a great idea, but rolling it out across the whole of the UK’s network of motorways will take significant amounts of time and money.

Other charging units are also needing careful consideration, as typical electric car chargers are unlikely to be a practical option for plugging in an HGV. This means that there will also need to be significant infrastructure investment when it comes to installing truck-friendly chargers around the UK to ensure that HVVs can get back out onto the roads as quickly as possible. Fleet owners will also need to look into the practicalities of fitting their own chargers at their depots, and it remains to be seen as to whether this is something that truck manufacturers will offer as part o their deals.

Electric car manufacturers

It is fair to say that certain manufacturers have been at the forefront of developing electric cars and all eyes have been on them to take the next step in bringing electric power to HGVs. Tesla has therefore unveiled its first electric semitruck, which boasts a 500-mile range. With the pedigree that Tesla has in developing and rolling out electric vehicles, it seems only a matter of time before these are a common sight on our roads.

Renault has also produced its first fleet of electric trucks in Belgium, whilst Volvo are testing hydrogen fuel cell HGVs with ranges of 620 miles and an impressive charging time of just 15 minutes.

Of course, it is not just the car manufacturers who feel a sense of urgency in creating electric HGVs, hauliers do too, which is why Amazon has taken matters into its own hands by launching their first electric HGVs. Whilst there are only a handful at the moment, they have their sights set on increasing this over the next few years.

HGV manufacturers

Whilst the likes of Elon Musk might have more experience in producing electric vehicles, the HGV manufacturers are also keeping up. Tevva is an electric truck start-up which is currently working on a 7.5 tonne truck with a range of 141 miles that is now ready for mass production, whilst the familiar name of Scania has launched a 186-mile range truck which can be fully charged in under 90 minutes.

In addition to these, Daimler, Hyundai, BYD and Toyota have all been working on their own alternatives by looking at the ways they can uses electric or hydrogen fuel cells in a practical way that will suit the commercial market. Trials are now going on across the United States and Europe, and so it seems as though it is only a matter of time before these are put into production on a larger worldwide scale.

Whilst the HGV industry seems to have been slow in catching up with the EV revolution, it looks as though the switch is closer than many might have thought. These vehicles are already in existence and on our roads at the moment, and whilst these are currently only small numbers and tweaks and infrastructure changes are still needed, they are sure to boom in the next few years.

Walker Movements are specialists in quality second-hand, used trucks and trailers and are global leaders in the trucking industry. Walker Movements have a true passion for the industry and make it their mission to answer any question customers can throw at them

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