Would Truck Drivers be okay with Long Haul Electric Semi Trucks if they were allowed a substantially higher GVW to achieve a 600+ mile range and the same load capability?
Posted by beipphine@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 33 comments
If an Electric Class 8 truck was allowed a GVW 96,000 lbs instead of 80,000 lbs (82,000 lb ev). Using a scaled up Peterbilt Model 579EV as the example for this:
Axle configuration: 20k steers, 42k tridem rear axles
Battery: Peterbilt Model 579EV has a 200 mile battery that holds 500 kWh of energy that weighs 8,000 lbs. To achieve a 600+ mile range would roughly require a 1,500 kWh battery that weighs 24,000 lbs. The truck stops would get the required infrastructure to fully charge up the Semi Trucks over the 10 hour rest period. The drivers plug their truck in at the end of the shift and unplug it the next shift.
Besides regulatory limitations, what would make this impractical?
Ok-Account-7660@reddit
The charging infrastructure being plentiful and powerful enough to charge every semi on the lot at the same time isnt practical with what exists right now.
Weight limits on bridges would need to be considered
More wear and tear on brakes and tires/ more expensive tires.
More expensive buy in price over the price of a conventional truck.
Its not that its electric that's the problem its all of the current downsides to electric like shorter range than conventional diesel, the charging infrastructure is non existent in many parts of the country, and replacement batteries are stupid expensive when that time comes
Ayasdad@reddit
Until it becomes cheaper to use electric trucks, diesel ain't going away. Plus these Tesla people are getting fleeced anyway. Often it costs almost as much as a tank of gas to fill their battery and it takes them at least 20 minutes to do it and they're still only getting like 300 miles of range. There was this company called Edison that was doing something interesting with diesel electric hybrid model but I haven't heard much from them since our relationship with Canada got... Uncomfortable.
SaltAndBitter@reddit
Last I'd heard, the Canadian government got pissy and forced him to change the design. Intentionally misclassified the equipment and said he couldn't have the locomotive-esque "diesel generator powering an electric drive train" setup anymore, if I understood the situation correctly
Ayasdad@reddit
That's too bad because it really sounded like it had some legs. It would seriously be the perfect answer to the infrastructure issue
Unfair_Analysis_3734@reddit
If the infrastructure is there, I guess I wouldn’t mind. Although that 600 mile range is a little low. I would like at least 1000 miles.
SaltAndBitter@reddit
This. I may fuel every 600-ish miles, but I vastly prefer having the extra 300-400 miles of buffer at my disposal if necessary.
planetbuster@reddit
what the hell? no, human drivers are not ok with electric trucks regardless of the bells and whistles. you should be duct taped to the chair of an old coffin nosed pete with bad seats and run up and down the mountains in the middle of winter just for posting this
milkman819@reddit
Having functional charging stations at every parking spots is not gonna happen. Charge cords will be ripped out and damaged in other ways so the truck can't be charged. That's the first issue that comes to mind for me
Gweedo1967@reddit
So add 24k lbs of battery weight and increase the GVR by 16k. I’ll pass.
AgapeAnus@reddit
Edison makes way more sense. Just run a diesel generator at a set rpm to make electricity for the motors and drive the heater core and AC compressor. Uses existing infrastructure, much lighter, not nearly as dangerous sitting on a 12 ton bomb that can't be put out even if you threw it in the ocean, lower emissions than even modern DEF trucks which are already incredibly low and if you want you can run a DEF system on an Edison and reduce it even further.
All electric semis only really make sense for short haul applications like city driving or yard work currently and that's not even getting into the grid not being able to support them at all on top of current load.
StrugglingGhost@reddit
Kind of weird to only now be hearing about Edison on here (maybe I've missed mentions before), my company has been doing stuff for them for a minute and when I looked them up, couldn't believe I hadn't heard about them before! Not gonna give details, don't want to dox myself, but my company has made several parts for their trucks, really cool to see things heading in a slightly different direction.
IndexFingerTypist@reddit
12tons of lithium on the rig sounds pretty fucking impractical. Where you putting that? Where will the driver sleep that is safe? Do you know how much water it would take to put that fire out if it goes bad? How much longer will the truck be? This is a joke of a question. We need to wait until a more efficient type of battery is created for long haul electric trucks are viable.
beipphine@reddit (OP)
Under the driver. Above 12 tons of lithium batteries (there will be a fire alarm telling you when your battery is on fire). A considerable amount. The truck is the same length, but its a few extra steps up to the cab. The windshield will be at the height of the wind deflector.
IndexFingerTypist@reddit
Height restrictions. Motor placement. Drivetrain. Brother, please don't be an engineer. I am a mere driver myself and can entertain your ridiculous fantasy. I think hybrid would be the way to go like that edison guy who builds them at the current state of tech.
Ghostxteriors@reddit
I could get behind something like the Edison trucks.
Even as someone who would not want one personally.
The biggest issue for me with electric trucks is finding a place to park is hard enough as it is: I can't imagine trying to find a charger on top of that.
An Edison truck is IMO the perfect compromise logically speaking.
Personally I'm still not giving up my tried and true 18 speed large car though.
indytrucks@reddit
I don’t think people understand the required infrastructure a truck stop is going to need to charge any decent number of trucks at the same time and have them all be fully charged in a 10 hour period. Possible? Sure. Probable? Not likely any time in the near future.
beipphine@reddit (OP)
A Generation 2 350 kW DC fast charger would be required for every truck. The technology already exist and is being implemented across the United States for passenger car charging. There would be the grid interconnections, AC to DC converters, and the charger terminal itself. Expensive yes, but the technology is already established and cost are predictable, Electrify America has stations across the US for passenger cars. The stations would be set up on long term leases with the truck stop owners and cost would be repaid by the trucks getting charged.
3rdSafest@reddit
You need to check your electrical math.
Ghostxteriors@reddit
No. We wouldn't be paid more. And that "600 mile" range would be advertisement lies anyways.
And finding parking is hard enough as it is; I can't imagine trying to find charging on top of that
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
They will destruoroads... no
beipphine@reddit (OP)
Can't roadways damage be roughly approximated with the Fourth Power Rule Currently on a 5 axle 80,000 lb truck, its 0.62 under my proposed 6 axle 96,000 lb truck, its still 0.62.
Edge2110@reddit
Now way would I want to stop more often to charge batteries
nanneryeeter@reddit
I don't do OTR but I wouldn't. That would require that I sleep at a truck stop and I abhore such places.
The infrastructure goes beyond adding charging. It includes adding a lot of parking. All of those creatively parked trucks will need a spot.
All of the trucks overnighting outside of the receiver will need charging.
There will have to be a regulatory change that if you're expecting a truck, you have space. Imagine an airport where you just have to find a spot to park your jet. That would be an idiotic situation. That is the situation currently with trucks.
Ok_Application_2292@reddit
See I think if you can perfect a 500 mile range will be perfect. We just go back to the way the LTL carriers did years ago You basically have hubs where those trucks go and drop trailers and kinda like the Florida Turnpike if you’ve ever driven down at the end of the Turnpike there’s this parking lot huge for all the Dollies so they can haul double trailers basically same thing you have big charging port or drop lot for the trailers. Or have drivers meet at the 250 mark swap and go home
ComprehensiveDark814@reddit
If you give me a 750 mile per day truck (I do more than 600 all the time) then there's nothing I can complain about. The main reason I push back on EV semis is because of how smug and arrogant proponents are about it while at the same time demonstrating they know nothing about the industry.
I don't want to be that heavy, though. Not even if the torque of an electric motor compensates for it.
jkenosh@reddit
It would damage a lot of roads, Who is gonna pay to put the infrastructure in to charge these trucks, Charging a 1500 kw battery takes a huge charging station and lots of power, How are you gonna do that at a truck stop with 60 trucks needing charging. The power needed for that is equivalent to a small cities power needs. How does it handle the winter cold or is this going to be southern trucks only.
Gilgamesh2000000@reddit
Cold kills off the range of the electric Amazon vans. Probably wouldn’t be much better with a truck.
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
Ummmm... physics. Who wants to roll down Cabbage with that much weight? I understand the need for efficiency in business, but always putting more on drivers and endangering more people isn't the way.
pingus3233@reddit
One thing about electrics though is there wouldn't be any Jake brakes, they would probably use some sort of regenerative braking which would likely be super efficient at maintaining a safe speed down a grade. Assuming they weren't designed by absolute morons, that is.
Twisty12223@reddit
I would be ok with a hybrid. The problem I have with electrical is I don't know how it would handle when I am in -20 degrees freedom units. I know as long as I keep the engine running the diesel will make sure I don't freeze to death. I haven't done any research on how electrical vehicles handle extreme cold.
beipphine@reddit (OP)
The batteries insulated and actively heated/cooled as needed to keep them at the optimal temperature. As long as you never let it get completely discharged and cold there wouldn't be any major issues with temperature (a 120V 15A plug would keep the battery warm and topped off for long term storage). There is some range loss in passenger cars for heating / cooling, but in a battery this size it would be relatively minimal. The heat for the battery would be provided mostly by the electric motor in operation, or resistive heat if needed.
ConsistentRegion6184@reddit
I still don't understand the obsession with long haul otr trucking.
Why go for something tuned for 300 miles loaded for all the local and regional line haul? No sleeper, easier charging and for breakdowns. Last I heard Pepsi was interested for hauling Lays products.
3rdSafest@reddit
Regulatory limitations are the only issue. Plenty trucks out there hauling at 105k or more. It’s not the weight, it’s Johnny Law telling us no.