Is the electric truck the future of freight transportation?
This page is translated from the original post "Le camion électrique, avenir du transport de marchandises ?" in French.
- 08/02/2023 10:00
This is in any case the conclusion of a report released yesterday by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), which demonstrates the superior environmental performance of electric trucks compared to diesel models.
According to the French Road Transportation Union, 87% of freight transportation was carried out by road in 2021 (2022 figures are not yet available). Another interesting figure is the diesel fuel consumption over 10 years by heavy trucks, which was 11.5 million m³ in 2019. This highlights the impact of pollutant emissions and greenhouse gases in freight transport, which, for logical reasons of cost and autonomy, has not yet shifted to electric.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), which published its latest study on February 7, 2023, explains that with electricity produced from renewable energy sources, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 84% compared to the most efficient diesel trucks.
They cite an example of a 2021 model 40-ton electric tractor, which would emit 63% less greenhouse gases than a diesel truck over 1.3 million kilometers traveled, taking into account its manufacturing and the electricity produced according to European standards.
On the other hand, trucks equipped with a fuel cell could reduce their emissions by 85%, provided that their hydrogen source comes from renewable energy, which is still very rare.
Natural Gas Proves Disappointing
“Our study addresses uncertainties regarding gases emitted at each stage of the vehicle’s life. It shows that only electric trucks and some fuel cell trucks can enable the transport sector to meet its climate goals“, explains Nikita Pavlenko, who participated in the ICCT study.
However, natural gas, often promoted by transportation companies, would not be so “magical,” as it would only offer a gain of 4 to 18% compared to diesel.
In conclusion, the transportation sector remains the top producer of greenhouse gases (30%) in the European Union. The rise of a new generation of electric trucks would therefore be beneficial.
Source: AFP
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