What do you wish you could ask the trucking industry about electrification, but are unsure who to ask or how to properly phrase the question?

The answer to many questions in the trucking industry is "it depends" because there is an incredible amount of variation in trucking operations, both from fleet-to-fleet and even within a fleet. The type of trailer (aerodynamics factor), the cargo (weight of the payload) and terrain (mountains versus flatlands) and more all make it difficult to provide singular answers and ranges of answers.

One item that needs to be stated up front to your question is that it is against federal law to have refueling stations on interstates. Notice that you don't see fuel pumps at rest areas. Toll roads are a different case and can have refueling stations, so it is possible to have charging stations there in the future.

Additionally, many trucks no longer go through weigh stations because they are equipped with transponders in the cab so the weigh stations receive the information they want without the truck passing though their scales. (Watch for a device mounted well above the road just before the weigh station to see the equipment talking to the truck's transponder). Time is money and slowing down and accelerating after the weight is taken reduces fuel economy, so fleets prefer to stay in motion.

Currently a rough estimate for an "average" heavy-duty truck energy use is about 2 kWhr per mile traveled. Some of these trucks put on around 600 miles per day. So a total daily consumption might be roughly 1,200 kWhrs. But as stated previously that number will vary widely depending on loads, terrain, application, start/stop cycles, wind, and much more. NACFE will know more about daily loads after our Run On Less - Electric demonstration this fall. Check out this 13 EV truck event at RunOnLess.com or follow NACFE on the social media platform of your choosing.

Hi Rao,

David is correct about fueling at rest stops. Truck charging along transportation corridors may happen at venues analogous to those of EVgo and Electrify America, who do light-duty EV charging. For short haul operation, trucks will likely do overnight depot charging if they travel only 100-200 miles during the day.