The revolution of electric trucks is about to accelerate

Until not long ago, the image of 18-wheeler trucks pulling the charge with a battery seemed ridiculous to me. But I have changed my mind.

In fact, I would say that powered wheels with an electric motor can reach the truck market faster than the world of passenger cars.

The reason is simple Truck companies-like any capitalist institution that maximizes profits-make rational purchasing decisions based on careful evaluations of economic viability. Any competent finance chief is algorithmically trained to ask, "Is this going to make our company more money?" If the answer is "yes," the change is usually quick.

On the other hand, people are often motivated by soft selling factors such as vanity, size and flexibility, not to mention instant convenience. A good set of cup holders often exceeds fuel economy. The option of transporting a sheet of plywood at any time, even if only twice a year, is considered to be worth the cost of increasing the purchase of a vehicle.

Personal transportation choices have long been incompatible with making good financial decisions (I can validate that fact personally). Yes, I know that new ways of saving money, such as travel sharing, are redefining the way some people move, but there is much more of the world of vehicles than just Manhattan and Berlin.

But let's think again about changing the face of the road transport business. Can we think of a historical analogy to help us consider whether an electric truck will win the favor of a tried and true diesel? The comparison criteria are: (1) old and new systems must be on wheels; (2) the energy source is changing; (3) the propulsion method that drives the wheels is changing; and, (4) the acquisition is being driven by business decisions.

The closest example I can think of is railroad locomotives; the transition from steam boilers to coal to diesel engines powered by oil. Due to its superior performance, the replacement of the great iron horses was rapid, beginning significantly in the 1940s and ending in complete obsolescence in the early 1970s. "Fast", however, still translates in three decades.

Source: By Peter Tertzakian on Oil Price