Distribution

Get answers to some of the most frequently asked electric-vehicle questions

If you’ve been reading this space, you’ll know that we’ve been giving greater and greater attention to electric vehicles (EVs). Even though EVs are commanding a lot of ink, fleet managers and drivers, overall, many have more questions than answers associated with the technology. Let’s answer some of the most common ones.

Where does America’s EV charging infrastructure stand at present?
At the end of 2023, there were a total of 68,475 public and private charging stations and 184,098 individual charging ports in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. That’s nearly 33 times the number of stations and more than 36 times the number of ports that were available across the country 10 years earlier. From 2022 to 2023, the number of stations grew more than 19%, while the number of individual ports increased by nearly 22%.

Are EVs completely emission-free?
The batteries powering the electric vehicles generally produce zero emissions, but there might still be emissions generated by the source generating the electricity for the charging stations. The origin of the electricity at the power stations could be coal or natural gas (the burning of the latter produces lower emissions than that of other fossil fuels, but it still generates some emissions).

How far can electric trucks go on a single charge?
In general, fleet managers can expect between just under 200 and 300 miles on a single charge, but that really depends on a number of factors such as weight of the payload, external temperature and driving conditions and the behavior of individual drivers. For instance, Freightliner says its Class 6 eM2, equipped with a smaller, 194 kilowatt-hours (kWh) configuration usually reaches a range of 180 miles. But its Class 7 eM2, with a larger, 291 kWh pack can travel about 250 miles. Meanwhile, Volvo Trucks says its VNR Electric can reach distances of up to 275 miles on a charge.

Are there significant government incentives for adopting EV technology?
The most significant federal incentive derives from the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers a tax credit for electric vehicles purchased in 2023 and later. The credit covers up to $40,000 of the vehicle’s purchase price. Most states also offer some form of incentive, though they vary widely, state-to-state. As expected, California remains the leader with its Hybrid Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program, which offers an incentive of up to $120,000 for heavy-duty trucks.

What is the typical cost difference between electric and diesel-powered trucks?
Last year the nonprofit Environmental and Energy Studies Institute reported that electric semi-trucks could cost up to 2.8 times their diesel counterparts — absent any of the aforementioned incentives. But EV owners can save more over time, as the cost to fuel a gallon equivalent with electricity often can be as little as one-third the price of a gallon of diesel.

How many electric trucks are currently on the road in the U.S.?
The number of EVs deployed across the country is still relatively small. As of the beginning of 2024, there were 13,000 electric trucks operating on the road, according to an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund — a drop in the bucket when you consider that there are some 12.2 million trucks on American roads as we speak. BI