Battery costs for certain classes of commercial vehicles are declining so rapidly that some applications already, or soon will, boast a better business case when compared to their diesel counterparts. Take, for example, a Class 6 battery-electric truck (BEV) that Amazon has purchased from, Lion Electric to complete its zero-emission deliveries. When compared to a comparable diesel Class 6 delivery truck, this BEV application can hypothetically cost considerably less to own and operate when fuel, maintenance and insurance costs are taken into account over the life of the delivery vehicle–even without purchase incentives or clean fuel credits.
As battery prices decline, the selection of ZECVs on the market or soon to be available is making a rapid ascent. By the end of 2021, there will be more than 300 ZECV models commercially available for purchase in the United States, Canada and Europe. Transit/school buses and medium-duty delivery formats are leading model availability growth in an already robust market.
Despite the positive business case for these vehicles in many applications as well as the healthy and growing selection of models, upfront sticker price remains a threshold barrier – particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.
How can they bridge the gap?
Creative new models for financing these vehicles and their associated charging infrastructure would help, and so would an influx in capital. However, the new analysis Taking Financing Commercial Fleet Electrification to Scale: Financing Barriers and Solutions, from Calstart‘s Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero program and campaign, shows that financiers and financial products are not keeping pace with the rapid growth of the zero-emission commercial vehicle (ZECV) segment. The analysis finds that uncertainty over the residual value of these new technologies – or how much they will be worth in the years to come – is the leading reason financiers are holding back. But uncertainty around the future value of these vehicles need not hamper the ability of small- and medium-sized businesses to purchase delivery trucks and vans that cost less to operate, keep their communities cleaner and that are just plain fun to drive.
Source: https://www.trucks.com/2021/04/27/e-commerce-boom-speeds-zero-emission-truck-adoption/
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Posted Date : May 04 2021
