According to new research from Element Energy, electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) are poised to become more economical than their diesel counterparts.

Coupled with recent data from e-mobility service provider ZapMap, which shows that there are now more than 920,000 fully electric cars on UK roads and a further 560,000 plug-in hybrids, it is possible that electrification could happen much sooner than predicted.

Gary Jacobs of Vattenfall, notes that the UK power grid still has a long road to travel before it is ready to accommodate eHGVs that rely on ‘opportunity charging’ meaning vehicles that require charging at random locations along their journey, as and when needed.

Opportunity charging, especially for long-haul trucks, requires widespread high-power charging infrastructure along major transportation routes; and while the UK government has been making significant strides in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, its long-distance charging concept is a long way from being materialised.

However, Element Energy’s report notes that over half of British eHGVs will only require charging at their home depots, reducing the need for widespread public charging infrastructure, and as technology advances and economies of scale come into play, the initial higher investment in electric vehicles is predicted to be offset by lower operating and maintenance costs.

---