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I think there's plenty of hints that Fedex and UPS are going electric, but taking time and thought into how it integrates. Not everything is a cloud provisionin

by dv_dt 5y ago

I think there's plenty of hints that Fedex and UPS are going electric, but taking time and thought into how it integrates. Not everything is a cloud provisioning script away from rollout. Fedex Plans to Electrify its Entire Fleet of Delivery Vehicles by 2040" [1] "UPS Orders 10000 Electric Delivery Trucks..." [2] [1] https://fordauthority.com/2021/03/fedex-plans-to-electrify-its-entire-fleet-of-delivery-vehicles-by-2040/ https://fordauthority.com/2021/03/fedex-plans-to-electrify-i... [2] https://www.boston.com/cars/car-news/2020/03/22/ups-orders-10000-electric-delivery-trucks-plans-test-of-self-driving-vans https://www.boston.com/cars/car-news/2020/03/22/ups-orders-1...

throwaway0a5e 5y ago
They're talking about delivery vehicles (which lend themselves well to electric operation for the same reasons city buses do) not semi trucks.
- dv_dt 5y ago
  Right, it takes time to rollout, and given battery factory constraints right now, even if a semi were 100% ready, you couldn't supply the batteries for the use for at least another two the tree years I would guess. So I think at best, right now, you'll see planning for delivery vehicles, with semis in earlier development.
  - xkjkls 5y ago
    Semis are an entirely different equation than delivery vans. They have more constraints around energy density, whereas vans have more constraints around price.
- kingsuper20 5y ago
  Delivery and route trucks really are the interesting test case for battery-powered vehicles. Assuming that someone in a government meeting room doesn't dictate their technology via fiat or subsidy, it's a case based purely on economic interests. Double bonus points for being a tolerably straightforward to calculate decision. I really can't foresee how it turns out, hopefully the battery tech has some room to run.
  - dv_dt 5y ago
    I think the government could beneficially move the bar with something like large guaranteed EV postal vehicle order with requirements to site key factories on the vehicles and batteries in the US. That would give businesses the order sheet backing to get loans and investment in place to build the capacity to supply the gov't order, but also as a good foundation for other customer uses.

by dv_dt 5y ago

throwaway0a5e 5y ago

They're talking about delivery vehicles (which lend themselves well to electric operation for the same reasons city buses do) not semi trucks.

dv_dt 5y ago
Right, it takes time to rollout, and given battery factory constraints right now, even if a semi were 100% ready, you couldn't supply the batteries for the use for at least another two the tree years I would guess. So I think at best, right now, you'll see planning for delivery vehicles, with semis in earlier development.
- xkjkls 5y ago
  Semis are an entirely different equation than delivery vans. They have more constraints around energy density, whereas vans have more constraints around price.
kingsuper20 5y ago
Delivery and route trucks really are the interesting test case for battery-powered vehicles. Assuming that someone in a government meeting room doesn't dictate their technology via fiat or subsidy, it's a case based purely on economic interests. Double bonus points for being a tolerably straightforward to calculate decision. I really can't foresee how it turns out, hopefully the battery tech has some room to run.
- dv_dt 5y ago
  I think the government could beneficially move the bar with something like large guaranteed EV postal vehicle order with requirements to site key factories on the vehicles and batteries in the US. That would give businesses the order sheet backing to get loans and investment in place to build the capacity to supply the gov't order, but also as a good foundation for other customer uses.