At the Commercial Vehicle Show, we met hundreds of business owners and professionals looking to move towards electric vehicles in advance of the 2030 deadline on ICE vehicles.
Common questions at the exhibition included, "how do lorries charge?", "how long does it take for an electric lorry to charge?" and "is it worth having an electric HGV in our fleet?".
Let's take a look at some of the current entries onto the HGV market.
HVS' new hydrogen-electric HGV
HVS are one of the leading companies in the pursuit of electric HGVs. You can watch the unveiling of their new hydrogen-electric, zero-emission HGV below:
The UK-based truck manufacturer aims to provide an alternative to the traditional ICE HGV that we have all seen trucking along in the left-hand lane. The HGV will have an industry-leading 370-mile range.
Image credit: https://www.hvs.co.uk/newsroom/hvs-unveils-uks-first-zero-emission-hydrogen-electric-hgv-with-class-leading-370-mile-range accessed 24/04/2023
Volta's 16-tonne truck for decarbonising cities
With a range of up to 125 miles, Volta's contribution has zero tailpipe emissions and is suitable for ambient and refrigerated cargo.
Volta offer a 'Truck as a Service' scheme which helps their customers transition easily to electric trucks. This includes site surveys of depots to understand what charging infrastructure will be required, as well as telematics information of how the customer's fleet currently operates. From here, existing chargepoint can be upgraded or an entirely new system can be installed.
It comes as no surprise that upgrading your company's fleet and investing in charging infrastructure can be a costly investment. That's why truck manufacturers like Volta are offering finance to allow costs to be competitive with that of a diesel fleet.
Charge and Recharge also offer finance on all chargepoint installations over £1000 for our commercial customers. To learn more, click here or speak to our friendly team on 01827 211 600.
Tevva's aim for 1000 7.5 tonne trucks per year
In January, Tevva released 20 electric trucks with a 141-mile range to customers. They aim to also release a 19-tonne version within the year.
Their all-electric offering has a total payload allowance of almost 3000kg and can charge up to 90% in 5 hours.
Tevva will also be promoting their hydrogen-electric truck throughout 2023.
Are they worth it?
Yes, we think so!
This is an evolving industry with the latest technology being used to advance the capabilities of non-ICE vehicles.
Lorries and HGV's require innovation to an even higher level than standard cars. They have a heavier load, travel more miles each day, and have to be efficient for businesses to remain cost-effective.
Diesel trucks will be banned by 2040 and we are making the necessary steps towards an electric future for HGVs. It may be a long road, but companies like HVS, Volta and Tevva are immensely important for the future of haulage in the UK.