Charging Infrastructure Is Instrumental to Long-Haul Trucking Electrification

As the number of electric vehicles on the roads continues to increase, utilities need to work together with regulators and fleets to prepare for widespread fleet electrification. In an article for Utility Dive, Will Sierzchula, managing consultant at Guidehouse, explains that while urban and local mobility landscape has a clear path towards electrification thanks to improving vehicle range and charging infrastructure, electrifying long-haul trucking will be more complicated due to their tremendous energy needs. 

"Figuring out charging infrastructure for the long-haul trucking industry represents a tricky and potentially lucrative problem," said Sierzchula. "Indeed, this challenge may ultimately push heavy-duty semi-trucks toward hydrogen fuel, while most other vehicle classes embrace electricity."

Transmission and distribution are expected to present additional challenges for utility planning and investment. If driving patterns remain similar to current long-haul trucks, most vehicles would need to charge at public stations along busy corridors far from generation resources. 

"While the energy required for an electric long-haul fleet may be alarming, electrification of this vehicle segment will not happen overnight," explained Sierzchula. "Utilities have some time to see how the industry evolves, but they shouldn’t delay too long because it will take years to build the infrastructure necessary to recharge electric semi-trucks at distant truck stops."