(AI Summary)
Key Findings:
• Operational fit matters: Electric trucks performed best not by directly replacing diesel units but when fleets adjusted routes and practices to match BEV strengths (predictable distances, centralized terminals). Success depended more on aligning operations than on raw vehicle capability.
• Efficiency & emissions: BEVs used far less energy than diesel and cut greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 80% under Quebec’s clean grid, though real-world range was often below theoretical limits due to cautious deployment and limited confidence in charging. Weather (especially cold) significantly affected efficiency and range.
• Costs & utilization: With government purchase and infrastructure incentives, electric Class 8 trucks can nearly match diesel total cost of ownership over six years if annual use is high (~74,000 km). Without incentives, required utilization rises beyond what many regional fleets can realistically achieve.
• Charging infrastructure is critical: Concerns about charger availability affected how trucks were used more than battery range; reliable infrastructure and careful depot planning emerged as essential for productivity.
• Reliability & maintenance: EVs required fewer routine interventions, but when issues occurred downtime was longer than for diesel — reflecting early adoption and learning curves among fleets and service providers.
• Driver acceptance: Drivers generally preferred the electric trucks thanks to smoother acceleration, less noise, and lower fatigue, and noted strong public interest.
by yowspur
