Electric Trucks A Viable Solution For Fleets, Study Claims
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Electric trucks like the Chevy Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning are being marketed as eco-friendly alternatives for fleet operators, but for many of these companies, it remains to be seen how effective a battery-electric truck would be in their specific work environment. A recent study conducted by fleet solutions company Geotab attempts to shine some light on the matter, using real-world data from Enterprise Fleet Management to determine if electric trucks are a viable alternative to gasoline or diesel-powered equivalents.
The study analyzed data from 91,000 vehicles operated by Enterprise Fleet Management, with researchers looking at data like daily miles driven, energy costs and maintenance and repair costs. Researchers found Enterprise Fleet Management would be able to replace roughly 45 percent of its current fleet with electric trucks like the Chevy Silverado EV, based on capabilities for range, payload, towing performance and more.
The biggest limitation preventing fleets from replacing the remaining 55 percent of their vehicles with EVs was not range, surprisingly. Researchers found that 76 percent of the trucks they analyzed could be replaced with an EV and not run out of charge during the day. Half of the light-duty trucks analyzed never exceeded 280 miles in a single day over an entire year, and tended to stay well within the range capabilities of most new electric trucks.
One major limitation for many companies looking to adopt a pure EV fleet is purchasing costs. The purchasing costs can be offset by lower running costs for EVs, but only if the vehicle is driven a certain amount throughout its lifetime. “There’s a sweet spot for vehicles that both drive short enough distances to be range-capable and high enough annual mileage to provide a lower [toal cost of ownership] compared to a gas-powered pickup,” researchers concluded. Rather expectedly, the purchasing cost factor is less pronounced in states with higher EV rebates.
The study also looked at other advantages of electric trucks, including their immediate torque, their availability to serve as an on-site power station and the added front storage compartment – sometimes referred to as a “frunk.” All of these are unique advantages of electric trucks that could potentially make them preferable to gas or diesel models, researchers found.
“Electric pickup trucks represent a huge opportunity for fleets,” Geotab said in a release. “The models entering the market already meet over three-quarters of the nearly half a million analyzed vehicles’ daily driving requirements – even on their worst days – and represent significant cost saving opportunities. As their purchase price comes down, whether through a rebate or as a result of the falling cost of battery technology, they will become even more economically desirable.”
GM’s first fleet-focused electric truck, the Chevy Silverado WT, will enter production at its Factory Zero plant in Michigan next spring.
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Better not tow with them or haul anything heavier then a gallon of milk.
So you write this based on your experience with your own?
GM Fan – I write this because of the people on the Fast Lane Youtube Channel who got 86 miles towing a 6k trailer on a flat highway with a Ford Lightening.
This has 400 mile range. Way more than the lightning. Towing heavy loads you would assume about 50% loss or 200 miles range. That is still really good. Drive for 3 hours charge for <1, repeat.
This will still add time to your job completion rate, time to job, labor costs while people stand around waiting for the truck to charge. It is a waste all around. I will keep my fleet of ICE Silverado’s for as long as I can. I am trying to procure engines and transmissions for when the time comes for them to be replaced as it will.
So if the employee drives his work truck home whos paying for the recharge?
Obviously he does if he uses it after work hours. Same as with gasoline trucks now. But electricity is much cheaper per mile.
Exactly!!
An yes, a survey set up just to push this EV nonsense. Reminds me of military supplier competitions where the judges are paid off by Lockheed or Raytheon and make the parameters suited just for that companies product so the competitors can’t win (F35 anybody?)
The study point out the problem and fails to address It. EV purchase price is astronomical. They don’t even address that fleets command huge bulk discounts on ICE that aren’t in the profit margins for EV’s. Then fleets maintain vehicles for 30-50k miles and flip them while resell value is still high. Not the 150-200k needed just to recuperate the upfront costs.
Also we do have lots of resale data from Tesla. 3 year old teslas are averaging 50% their original value. 5 year old teslas are averaging 30%. That’s not good!
I wondering how reliable EVs are if one needs to keep them for 150k – 200k miles to recoup their cost?
If data from Tesla is any indicator, transaxles are just as likely to fail, as are shocks, knuckles, and AC and battery cooling. Also, suspension and wheel components are more expensive as a sedan EV weighs the same as an HD trucks. Teslas aren’t cheap to own. Ford Mach-e’s and lighting will likely follow suit. For the general, anything that is less hassle the the bolt is a win, but I don’t imagine the story will change.
Purchase price does not really come down with a rebate – it just transfers the cost to the taxpayer that is funding the rebate.
The article states: “There’s a sweet spot for vehicles that both drive short enough distances to be range-capable and high enough annual mileage to provide a lower [total cost of ownership] compared to a gas-powered pickup,” researchers concluded.
So what is the “sweet spot”? If this extensive survey was conducted then this information must exist, why not publish it?
It’s cause the Two don’t intersect, or not without crossing the beams and us entering an alternative reality 😏
What will the real range be when these trucks are sitting with the heaters or AC running and loaded?
They will never be as convenient as being able to stop by the corner gas station for quick fill up when needed.
I can see these in the residential construction or equipment haul market. Outside of that is a stretch..