The auto industry is reaching the point where operating electric semi-trucks is more cost-effective than diesel trucks, making it a good time to start investing in electric semi-trailer trucks, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.
Researchers – Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Venkat Viswanathan and Ph.D. student Shashank Sripad – examined the operating cost of a fleet of electric semi-trucks that can travel 500 miles compared with a fleet of diesel semi-trucks and the initial financial investment.
Although the cost the electric trucks’ lithium-ion battery pack is high, the vehicles have energy efficiency and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In most scenarios, electric semis will be cheaper to operate in three years.
“In spite of those initial concerns, there seems to be an economic case for transitioning to electric semi-trucks,” Sripad said. “However, to ensure favorable economics, certain, important aspects like the low-battery pack cost, high cycle life, and low electricity price need to be ensured.”
The researchers offered four targets to help with the transition: Reduce battery pack size, improve battery pack cycle life, reduce battery pack costs to less than $150 per kilowatt hour (kW) and reduce electricity costs to below 20 cents per kilowatt hour with a peak power of more than 500kW.