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Challenges and opportunities in truck electrification revealed by big operational data

Author

Listed:
  • Pei Zhao

    (Tsinghua University
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Shaojun Zhang

    (Tsinghua University
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex
    Tsinghua University)

  • Paolo Santi

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Instituto di Informatica e Telematica del CNR)

  • Dingsong Cui

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Fang Wang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Peng Liu

    (Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Zhaosheng Zhang

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Jin Liu

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Zhenpo Wang

    (Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Carlo Ratti

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Politecnico di Milano)

  • Ye Wu

    (Tsinghua University
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex
    Tsinghua University)

Abstract

The electrification of trucks is a major challenge in achieving zero-emission transportation. Here we gathered year-long records from 61,598 electric trucks in China. Current electric trucks were found to be significantly underutilized compared with their diesel counterparts. Twenty-three per cent of electric delivery trucks and 30% of semi-trailers could achieve one-on-one replacement with diesel counterparts, while on average 3.8 electric delivery trucks and 3.6 electric semi-trailers are required to match the transportation demand that is served by one diesel truck separately. For diesel trucks that are capable of one-on-one replacement, electric trucks have 15–54% and 1–49% reductions in cost and life-cycle CO2 emissions, respectively. Enhancements in usage patterns, vehicle technologies and charging infrastructure can improve electrification feasibility, yielding cost and decarbonization benefits. Increased battery energy densities with optimized usage can make one-on-one electrification feasible for more than 85% of diesel semi-trailers. In addition, with cleaner electricity, most Chinese electric trucks in 2030 will have lower expected life-cycle CO2 emissions than diesel trucks.

Suggested Citation

  • Pei Zhao & Shaojun Zhang & Paolo Santi & Dingsong Cui & Fang Wang & Peng Liu & Zhaosheng Zhang & Jin Liu & Zhenpo Wang & Carlo Ratti & Ye Wu, 2024. "Challenges and opportunities in truck electrification revealed by big operational data," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(11), pages 1427-1437, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:9:y:2024:i:11:d:10.1038_s41560-024-01602-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01602-x
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