There is a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, as this sector is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Despite the fact that medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for a disproportionate share of those emissions, little has been done to assess increased adoption and accelerated deployment of electric trucks and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This project fills that gap with much needed research and analysis of electric trucks and the challenges and opportunities that increased adoption present.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has partnered with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), David Gardiner and Associates (DGA), and Atlas Public Policy (Atlas) to explore the landscape and outlook for electric trucks for freight movement. We are conducting an ongoing assessment of the market landscape, challenges, and opportunities for electric truck adoption among retailer shippers and their transportation partners. DGA facilitates and coordinates the group, provides strategic guidance, and engages with other governmental and non-governmental organizations interested in electric trucks.
As part of this project, Atlas conducted an independent total cost of ownership analysis for electric trucks to help retailer shippers better understand options available to them, or to their transportation providers. The results of this analysis indicate that medium- and heavy-duty EVs are cost competitive in some use cases under current market conditions and the most important factors are the cost of charging and availability of upfront vehicle incentives.
Atlas wrote a detailed report summarizing the analysis and created a dashboard tool to explore the analysis results. The 2-page dashboard tool includes:
Read Atlas’ Assessing Financial Barriers to Adoption of Electric Trucks and view the Fleet Procurement Analysis Tool.
In addition to the tool and analysis conducted by Atlas, C2ES authored a brief assessing the state of play for electric trucks as retailers and logistics companies explore options to reduce emissions from shipping and freight delivery. Companies interviewed for the brief noted that the need for charging infrastructure and EV incentives is an industry-wide challenge, but they recognize the long term environmental and health benefits of fleet electrification.
Read C2ES’ Insights on Electric Trucks for Retailers and Trucking Companies.
Watch the C2ES webinar “Accelerating the EV Market: Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks,” which covers these two reports and discusses options for lowering adoption costs and the supply chain importance of electrifying medium- and heavy-duty trucking.
As the number of passenger electric vehicles increase in the U.S., retailers are uniquely positioned to fill the gap for additional public electric vehicle charging infrastructure at their locations. Retailers also stand to benefit from installing charging stations, which include direct revenue, increased sales, and improved corporate branding. This brief by Atlas Public Policy examines common business models employed by charging service providers and provides analysis that explores potential financial scenarios for charging infrastructure hosts.
Read Atlas’ brief, “Public EV Charging Business Models for Retail Site Hosts.”
Whether retailers are designing and installing fleet or passenger vehicle on their properties, there are a number of stakeholders retailers should engage with. This C2ES brief provides insights on the key issues retailers should discuss with these groups: utilities, charging station service providers, product suppliers, delivery services providers, and customers. They are critical to helping retailers success since they can provide financial incentives, technical advice, and customer insights.
Read C2ES’ Electric Vehicle Charging for Retailers.
Watch the C2ES webinar “Recharging at Retail: Expanding Public EV Infrastructure” which covers these two reports and features a discussion on ways retailers can work with their utility, charging companies, and customers to install charging infrastructure and deliver a benefit for businesses and EV drivers.
Many retail businesses are working to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants through corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and emissions reduction programs. These have public health benefits to the local communities and governments which these businesses serve. Several are actively engaged with initiatives like the U.S. EPA SmartWay program, the Coalition for Responsible Transportation, and EV 100.
At the same time, EVs are a relatively new technology and many retailers lack access to independent analysis to help them make informed decisions about options to use electric trucks and install EV charging infrastructure. Additionally, many retailers employ a mix of private fleet trucks and outsourced trucking services in their freight operations. Therefore, the business case for electric trucks must include retailers and their third-party carriers.
C2ES would also like to thank Atlas Public Policy, the David Gardiner and Associates, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association for their work to gather information, provide valuable feedback, and write and edit the work products for this project. As a fully independent organization, C2ES is solely responsible for its positions, programs, and publications.