Tips for Choosing the Right Electric Truck
As the adoption of electric trucks continues to rise, their economic and environmental advantages are becoming increasingly evident across various use cases. More and more logistics companies are now considering a transition from traditional diesel-powered trucks to electric alternatives. However, shifting to electric trucks is not merely a matter of replacing diesel engines with electric motors. It requires a holistic transformation that includes considerations around battery range, charging infrastructure, operational strategies, and business model adjustments.
According to industry research, many fleet operators are still in the exploratory phase of their electrification journey. The most common questions they face are:
How do we select the right electric truck?
What battery capacity is appropriate for our operations?
This article provides a brief analysis of these two critical questions.
1. Understanding Two Key Energy Consumption Metrics: Technical vs. Economic
Energy efficiency is a key factor for logistics companies when choosing a truck. In the diesel era, manufacturers emphasized fuel economy. In the electric era, the focus has naturally shifted to electricity consumption.
However, the energy consumption figures provided by electric truck manufacturers are often based on short-term, controlled testing conditions—what can be called “laboratory data”—and may differ significantly from real-world usage.
Before purchasing an electric truck, it’s essential to distinguish between two types of energy consumption metrics:
● Technical Metric (kWh/km)
This refers to the energy used per kilometer to drive the vehicle and is the most commonly advertised figure by OEMs. Under standard test conditions—such as on level roads with balanced loading—many electric heavy-duty trucks achieve an average of 1.5 kWh per kilometer.
However, this figure typically excludes the energy consumed by auxiliary systems such as thermal management, air conditioning, battery heating or cooling systems, and more.
In real-world scenarios, especially during northern winters, the actual range of electric trucks can drop to only 60% of what is achievable in summer, meaning energy consumption increases significantly. Therefore, the technical metric is more of an idealized efficiency indicator that reflects the performance of the motor and drivetrain under optimal conditions, without accounting for real-life variables.
● Economic Metric (kWh per Ton)
This is a more realistic metric for fleet operations. Rather than measuring energy per kilometer, it calculates energy use based on the amount of cargo transported—specifically, the total electricity consumed divided by the total tonnage hauled.
This “ton-kWh” metric includes both driving energy and the power consumed by auxiliary systems. For logistics companies, focusing on this economic metric allows for a more accurate assessment of a vehicle’s real-world energy efficiency and operating cost, making it a more valuable reference for decision-making.
It’s also important to remember that energy consumption can vary significantly depending on operational context, driving habits, road conditions, and climate. All of these should be considered when selecting a vehicle.
2. Is Bigger Battery Capacity Always Better?
Once energy consumption is well understood, the next key question for logistics companies is: How much battery capacity do we really need?
Battery capacity directly determines the driving range and operational efficiency of an electric heavy-duty truck. Selecting the right battery specification for specific transport scenarios is critical for fleet operators.
With technological advancements and declining raw material costs, battery options on the market have become increasingly diverse. Capacities have grown from 282 kWh just a few years ago to 350 kWh, 423 kWh, and even 500–800 kWh packs are now available.
But does bigger always mean better when it comes to batteries?
● The Trade-offs of Larger Battery Packs
Admittedly, a larger battery pack can significantly extend a truck’s driving range and reduce the frequency of charging, improving operational flexibility. This naturally appeals to many logistics operators looking to maximize efficiency.
However, when choosing battery capacity, companies must carefully balance several factors — including actual operational needs, cost budgets, and compatibility with available charging infrastructure.
● Key Considerations:
If local charging facilities cannot support fast charging for large-capacity batteries, it may hinder the vehicle’s turnaround efficiency — offsetting the benefits of a larger battery.
Heavier batteries increase the truck’s curb weight, reducing its payload capacity and, in turn, affecting the profitability of the fleet.
For example, current battery technology adds approximately 5 to 6 kg of weight per additional kilowatt-hour. Comparing a 282 kWh battery to a 423 kWh battery, the weight difference exceeds 700 kg.
If a truck operates two trips per day, this weight penalty translates to a reduction of 1.5 tons of cargo capacity daily. Over the course of a year (assuming 300 working days), the lost payload could amount to 450 tons — a significant profit loss that logistics companies cannot ignore.
Moreover, larger battery packs drive up the initial vehicle purchase cost, placing additional financial pressure on logistics operators in the early stages of electrification.
Final Thoughts
Whether evaluating the true energy consumption of an electric truck or selecting the appropriate battery capacity, logistics companies must consider these decisions within the context of their specific transport scenarios and operational requirements.
By taking a comprehensive approach — weighing energy efficiency, operational demands, infrastructure readiness, and cost-effectiveness — companies can strike the optimal balance between economic benefit and operational efficiency, paving the way for sustainable fleet development in the electric era.
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