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I think the problem with long haul trucking is just getting the range. Are we close to having enough battery capacity to allow drivers to meet their hours-per-

by mulmen 4y ago

I think the problem with long haul trucking is just getting the range. Are we close to having enough battery capacity to allow drivers to meet their hours-per-day limits? If not electric won’t be economical for operators. Local delivery is a much clearer fit for electric, even in the short term. We see that here.

rdl 4y ago
Stop-start traffic and local delivery is much clearer, but from what I've seen of the energy calculations on Tesla Semi, it actually makes sense for bulky vs. heavy shipments on flat, warm routes, as long as there is appropriately sited charging infrastructure. Especially good for consumer-facing and high margin fleets, which is why Frito-Lay is an ideal launch customer. Even if it doesn't make absolute sense today, it probably will in 5-10 years.
- mulmen 4y ago
  Yeah you point out something that is easy to miss in these conversations. This is a transition. It won’t happen overnight. Local delivery will be first, which will contribute to economies of scale that will make ideal long-haul routes feasible, which will make further routes feasible. It will probably be decades before long haul Alaskan semis can be replaced with EVs but we can deliver the mail in LA with an EV today.
rrrrrrrrrrrryan 4y ago
If we're willing to invest in the infrastructure, it's possible to charge the trucks while they're in transit: https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18538030/germany-ehighway-siemens-vw-group-electrified-cables-wires-overhead-electric-hybrid-trucks https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18538030/germany-ehighway-...
- mulmen 4y ago
  Ok, that’s cool. Seems obvious in a place like central Washington where you can see hundreds of windmills lining the highway. Might also be beneficial on hillclimbs where instant battery capacity may be lacking. If we imagine building EVs that are 1:1 replacements for ICE we see challenging hurdles but with even small changes in the status quo EVs suddenly become feasible on shorter timeframes.
  - euroderf 4y ago
    > Might also be beneficial on hillclimbs where instant battery capacity may be lacking. Sounds like Norway or Switzerland would be your pilot project. Certainly Norway is all-in on electric. (They can afford to finance the cutting edge.)
    - mulmen 4y ago
      Probably. But Washington has the Cascades with existing power lines that have to cross the same mountain ranges as the highways from those wind farms to the population centers around Seattle. I bet there are a lot of opportunities to demonstrate this technology.

by mulmen 4y ago

rdl 4y ago

Stop-start traffic and local delivery is much clearer, but from what I've seen of the energy calculations on Tesla Semi, it actually makes sense for bulky vs. heavy shipments on flat, warm routes, as long as there is appropriately sited charging infrastructure. Especially good for consumer-facing and high margin fleets, which is why Frito-Lay is an ideal launch customer. Even if it doesn't make absolute sense today, it probably will in 5-10 years.

mulmen 4y ago
Yeah you point out something that is easy to miss in these conversations. This is a transition. It won’t happen overnight. Local delivery will be first, which will contribute to economies of scale that will make ideal long-haul routes feasible, which will make further routes feasible. It will probably be decades before long haul Alaskan semis can be replaced with EVs but we can deliver the mail in LA with an EV today.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 4y ago

If we're willing to invest in the infrastructure, it's possible to charge the trucks while they're in transit: https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18538030/germany-ehighway-siemens-vw-group-electrified-cables-wires-overhead-electric-hybrid-trucks https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18538030/germany-ehighway-...

mulmen 4y ago
Ok, that’s cool. Seems obvious in a place like central Washington where you can see hundreds of windmills lining the highway. Might also be beneficial on hillclimbs where instant battery capacity may be lacking. If we imagine building EVs that are 1:1 replacements for ICE we see challenging hurdles but with even small changes in the status quo EVs suddenly become feasible on shorter timeframes.
- euroderf 4y ago
  > Might also be beneficial on hillclimbs where instant battery capacity may be lacking. Sounds like Norway or Switzerland would be your pilot project. Certainly Norway is all-in on electric. (They can afford to finance the cutting edge.)
  - mulmen 4y ago
    Probably. But Washington has the Cascades with existing power lines that have to cross the same mountain ranges as the highways from those wind farms to the population centers around Seattle. I bet there are a lot of opportunities to demonstrate this technology.