EU driving time regulation requires a 45min break every 4.5h of driving. Maximum permitted road speed is 100km/h. So what you really need is 450km of realistic range so probably more like 500-600km range as stated by the manufacturer and fast chargers on all highway stops, which are able to charge up the trucks. Those kinds of trucks and at least some chargers are around in Europe already. Just a matter of deploying them.
Those trucks are also a very good choice, if you want to drive to and from a large freight rail yard or port.
Making charging stations for trucks is not feasible as of today, I think. Judging by how they park in Autobahn pockets, they would need a designated parking lot just for these trucks where each spot has a charger. These parking spots would be huge. As huge as some major on-road gas stations. We maybe could add infrastructure to these existing gas stations. All the small ones needs to be extended. And the ones that are just for parking - have do be rebuilt entirely.
It seems that this is a whole a lot of work. But is it as much as building wireless charging road? I feel that trucks will never go electric in near future.
Those massive parking lots are all around the large highways already. Again the truckers have to take those breaks due to labor law. Also electric trucking even long distance is a thing already. The main issue is that the trucks are too expensive, but prices are falling.
Obviously trains are the real solution for long distance. However those also need more tracks to be laid to have the capacity necessary to replace some trucking.
I’d like to know how long the lifecycles of those charging stations are. Because you are right that Maximum speed and break times put a hard cap on distance needed, but at least some form of self driving will eventually come and i’d imagine long distance highway trucking would be the prime target for deployment.
EU driving time regulation requires a 45min break every 4.5h of driving. Maximum permitted road speed is 100km/h. So what you really need is 450km of realistic range so probably more like 500-600km range as stated by the manufacturer and fast chargers on all highway stops, which are able to charge up the trucks. Those kinds of trucks and at least some chargers are around in Europe already. Just a matter of deploying them.
Those trucks are also a very good choice, if you want to drive to and from a large freight rail yard or port.
Making charging stations for trucks is not feasible as of today, I think. Judging by how they park in Autobahn pockets, they would need a designated parking lot just for these trucks where each spot has a charger. These parking spots would be huge. As huge as some major on-road gas stations. We maybe could add infrastructure to these existing gas stations. All the small ones needs to be extended. And the ones that are just for parking - have do be rebuilt entirely.
It seems that this is a whole a lot of work. But is it as much as building wireless charging road? I feel that trucks will never go electric in near future.
Those massive parking lots are all around the large highways already. Again the truckers have to take those breaks due to labor law. Also electric trucking even long distance is a thing already. The main issue is that the trucks are too expensive, but prices are falling.
Obviously trains are the real solution for long distance. However those also need more tracks to be laid to have the capacity necessary to replace some trucking.
I’d like to know how long the lifecycles of those charging stations are. Because you are right that Maximum speed and break times put a hard cap on distance needed, but at least some form of self driving will eventually come and i’d imagine long distance highway trucking would be the prime target for deployment.
Don’t worry, full self driving will be ready by the end of the year! (2017)