Electric Trucks
The other big EV market is for trucks. Particularly heavy trucks which are hard to electrify (heavy loads, long distances, remote locations, enormous batteries, long charging times etc).
- The buzziest EV startup in this space is Hyliion.
- Other entrants include battery-powered Tesla Semi, Mercs eActros, Volvo VNR (all WIP), BYD BTT (low key), and hydrogen-fueled Hyundai Xcient (WIP).
- In comparison, Hyliion's propulsion is driven by an electric drivetrain with batteries charged onboard by an engine running on bio-methane.
- Though the engine emits CO2, this is offset by the use of bio-methane, which is produced from carbon neutral plant cycles (vs diesel which is a fossil fuel).
- The other big sell of Hyliion is it can be fitted or retrofitted into existing truck designs, avoiding it having to design a truck from scratch. It also leverages on existing networks of natural gas stations thus not requiring a build-up of charging or hydrogen infra.
- Not a perfect combustion-less solution but takes the electrification of heavy transport one green step further. [By how much in concrete numbers and in scenarios where production of bio-methane has maxed out, and natural gas needs to be used instead, remain to be seen and not covered by Hyliion in its website.]
Countdown
The countdown has begun. No further sales of petrol/diesel new cars and buses (sample countries and cities):
- 2025: Netherlands, Norway
- 2030: Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden
- 2030: Auckland, CapeTown, Heidelberg, London, Seattle, Vancouver
Jalopies
- When sales of new petrol/diesel cars are banned, those still allowed on the road will become premium (to fans of gas guzzlers).
- Auto repair shops might see both a sunset (EVs require much less servicing) and sunrise (keeping the old jalopies going).
- Alibaba and Tencent see a business opportunity in this and are enrolling auto repair shops to offer their services via apps.
- The switch to EVs will see many economic changes and new business opps.