{"id":327775,"date":"2024-05-11T09:22:59","date_gmt":"2024-05-11T07:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327775"},"modified":"2024-05-11T09:23:02","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T07:23:02","slug":"wall-street-journal-companies-are-balking-at-the-high-cost-of-running-electric-trucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327775","title":{"rendered":"Wall Street Journal: Companies are Balking at the High Cost of Running Electric Trucks."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wall Street Journal recently\u00a0published an incisive analysis regarding the economic and operational challenges of adopting electric trucks in the logistics sector.<\/a>\u00a0The report, based on a study by Ryder Systems, casts doubt on the prevailing enthusiasm for zero-emission vehicles in the freight industry and presents a detailed critique of the assumptions underpinning this shift.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Evaluating the Economic Feasibility<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Electric trucks, especially the heavier models, present a substantial economic challenge compared to traditional diesel vehicles. Robert Sanchez, CEO of Ryder, highlights a significant disparity in the cost-effectiveness of these vehicles: \u201cThe economics just don\u2019t work for most companies\u201d\u200b\u200b. This statement reflects the broader industry reluctance to invest in electric trucks, which, despite their potential environmental benefits, fail to offer a viable economic case under current conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WSJ article points out that even with the promise of cleaner operations, the actual numbers tell a different story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAs trucks get heavier the difference in operating costs between battery-electric vehicles and diesel trucks grows more pronounced,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/companies-are-balking-at-the-high-costs-of-running-electric-trucks-fed0ce6e?st=p91nhgi60eufetg&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Detailed Cost Analysis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The article provides a state-specific analysis, revealing how transitioning to electric trucks could significantly increase operational costs. For instance, converting a fleet in California to electric would raise annual operating costs by 56%, amounting to an additional $3.4 million. Such figures pose serious concerns about the impact on a company\u2019s bottom line and the broader economic effects, such as potential contributions to inflation and heightened transportation costs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cConverting a typical mixed fleet of 25 commercial vehicles, including about 10 heavy-duty trucks, from diesel to battery power in California would raise a fleet\u2019s annual operating costs 56%, or $3.4 million a year. The same transition in Georgia would raise annual operating costs 67%, or $3.7 million.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/companies-are-balking-at-the-high-costs-of-running-electric-trucks-fed0ce6e?st=p91nhgi60eufetg&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Reality of Long-term Savings and Operational Efficiency<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The supposed long-term savings from lower fuel and maintenance costs are frequently cited by proponents of electric trucks. Yet, the WSJ report questions these claims, noting the lack of sufficient operational history to validate the durability and cost-efficiency of electric trucks over time. Additional operational hurdles exacerbate these concerns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cBattery-electric trucks cost about three times as much to purchase as a diesel rig\u2026 Truckers say battery-electric truck operations are too difficult to set up and too expensive and inefficient to run,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/companies-are-balking-at-the-high-costs-of-running-electric-trucks-fed0ce6e?st=p91nhgi60eufetg&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Regulatory Pressures Versus Industry Backlash<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Amid these economic challenges, regulatory pressures are increasing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for example, has introduced mandates for greater sales of battery-electric trucks. Similarly, California\u2019s aggressive regulations aim to fast-track the adoption of zero-emissions vehicles. However, these governmental directives meet resistance from within the trucking industry, where many argue the financial burden is too great:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a rule effectively mandating that manufacturers sell more battery-electric trucks by the end of the decade,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/companies-are-balking-at-the-high-costs-of-running-electric-trucks-fed0ce6e?st=p91nhgi60eufetg&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the tension between regulatory ambitions and practical economic capacities\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Wall Street Journal\u2019s coverage of the high costs associated with electric trucks in the logistics sector brings critical scrutiny to the practical and economic viability of the transition being shoved onto industry by the current administration. It challenges the assumption that environmental benefits automatically justify significant investments in new technologies, urging a reevaluation of whether the push for \u201csustainability\u201d, whatever that might be, may be outpacing the reality of current technological and economic conditions. As the industry confronts these challenges, it becomes clear that any transition must be grounded in a realistic appraisal of costs, benefits, and scalable feasibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full article here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HT\/moriarty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Wall Street Journal recently published an incisive analysis regarding the economic and operational challenges of adopting electric trucks in the logistics sector. The report, based on a study by Ryder Systems, casts doubt on the prevailing enthusiasm for zero-emission vehicles in the freight industry and presents a detailed critique of the assumptions underpinning this shift.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":327779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691828564,691823667,691818154,691828563],"class_list":{"0":"post-327775","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-electric-trucks","9":"tag-high-cost","10":"tag-net-zero","11":"tag-the-wall-street-journal","13":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/0ccj.TT_IMG2_REV1-2017-12-14-10-56.png?fit=2520%2C1692&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1ngH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":244167,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=244167","url_meta":{"origin":327775,"position":0},"title":"Ford Halts Production, Shipping of Electric F-150s Over Battery Issues","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"21\/02\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Ford Motor Company has announced an unspecified potential battery issue has led the company to stop producing and shipping its electric F-150 truck model, according to reports.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-547.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-547.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-547.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-547.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-547.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":257852,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=257852","url_meta":{"origin":327775,"position":1},"title":"Biden\u2019s New Emissions Control Standards Prove EVs are a Tough Sell","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"17\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Biden administration\u00a0released\u00a0new emissions control standards for vehicles. 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