Electric vehicles for trucking industry not coming soon, Minnesota Trucking Association says – Post Bulletin

ST. PAUL — Despite a push to go electric, the trucking industry is not likely to move away from combustible engines for several decades, according to a new report from the Minnesota Trucking Association.

The lack of infrastructure, high costs, low mileage and long charging times associated with electric vehicles are likely to affect the supply chain and negatively impact the trucking industry and customer wallets, MTA President John Hausladen said.

“Electrification is real, it shows promise in certain applications, but it’s not going to be the solution for trucking … for a very long time,” Hausladen said.

While Minnesota has no current regulations that mandate the use of electric trucks, the stage is set for future mandated use by pursuing low-carbon fuel standards and requiring vehicle dealers to sell more low- or zero-emission vehicles and pursue low-carbon fuel, according to the report.

The logistics of moving to electric trucks for over-the-road trucking is also complicated, Hausladen said.

Refueling times for a long-haul electric truck are between five to eight hours and would cover a range of 150 to 330 miles, compared to diesel fueling which takes around 15 minutes for about 1,200 mile range. Truckers are mandated to have a 14-hour window in which they can work, and refueling counts towards that time, Hausladen said.

The cost of electric trucks also more than doubles with the cost of a standard heavy-duty truck between $180,000 and $200,000 while an electric truck can cost around $480,000.

“The trucking industry is an industry where pennies make a difference,” Hausladen said, adding that the cost is not feasible for most providers right now.

While the association does not see a role for local, regional or long-haul electric trucks soon, it does support further research and development.

“We’re not saying don’t do it because it doesn’t exist today,” Hausladen said, adding that the industry has spent a lot of money on reducing emissions. “Why force this jump to add technology that is not there yet for heavy trucks?”