Canadian mobility expert James Carter has been closely monitoring the progress of the electric truck charging industry, including fundraising efforts and grant allocations. Recent investments in the industry suggest that the actual and proposed investment amount exceeds $1 billion.
California’s government, particularly Los Angeles, is tackling the issue of severe air pollution, which is a leading cause of premature deaths. Diesel trucks play a significant role in this problem. Consequently, California has introduced several initiatives, such as the Advanced Clean Fleet, Advanced Clean Truck, and the Carl Moyer fund, aimed at transitioning trucks to zero emissions.
Most of these trucks operate in short-distance drayage operations, transporting containers from ports to warehouses. Given the current availability of electric trucks, they can easily handle these short trips, which typically cover less than 150 miles.
The charging infrastructure being developed for these trucks utilizes high-power Megawatt level charging, incorporating the new MCS connector industry standard. This infrastructure allows electric trucks with high-power charging capabilities, such as the Tesla Semi, to undertake long haul trips effortlessly, similar to how Tesla cars and SUVs operate.
Tech companies are making major progress in developing MCS connector technology. On August 25, the Swiss company Staubli announced that it had launched a new MCS connector with 4.5 MW of charging power. Staubli’s connector can be used for trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.
The investments made in electric truck charging infrastructure far surpass those made for hydrogen truck refueling infrastructure. Furthermore, as electric trucks continue to advance and demonstrate their total cost of operation benefits, this charging infrastructure will further evolve.
The potential for this industry is enormous, with hundreds of billions of dollars yet to be invested.
Carter’s company, called Vision Mobility, is working with WattEV, Inc. to raise awareness about the critical role of electric trucks in the future of freight and logistics. Not only can this transition significantly reduce premature deaths caused by poor air quality across the US, but it can also have a substantial positive impact on the profitability of freight companies.
Earlier this summer, WattEV obtained a $34 million grant from the California Transportation Commission. This funding will be used to construct and manage the largest electric truck charging depot in the United States.
The depot will cover an area of more than 100 acres. It will be located adjacent to Interstate 5 near Sacramento International Airport.
Image Source: EVMagz, https://shorturl.at/bEV19
