Having a lot of choices can be a good thing. However, it can also make it difficult to determine which choice is right for you. This is especially true as the trucking industry navigates the messy middle.
In addition to having all these powertrain options to choose from, we are short of information on how different alternative fuels are performing in the various duty cycles that make up the trucking industry.
We know that not every powertrain option is right for every duty cycle and making the wrong choice can have serious consequences. But we also don’t have a lot of hard facts on which to base decisions. Fleets want data before making decisions on purchasing new assets.
See also: When it comes to sustainability, little things add up
First, I applaud the fleets that continue to pilot programs with alternative fuel vehicles in their operations. Second, I encourage them to share their findings with the rest of the industry. This is one of those times when we need to learn from each other. To date, many of the pilot projects have been undertaken by larger fleets. I understand that they are in the best position to take risks with new technology, but I also want to encourage all fleets to begin having a dialogue with manufacturers of alternative fuel vehicles with a goal of getting some real-world miles with an alternative fuel vehicle in their specific operation.
I encourage fleets that have done a pilot project with one or two trucks to take the next step and add more alternative fuel vehicles to their operation, so we can get some data based on real-world applications about trucks that are in operation day in and day out. We need to have more data on things like their durability, maintenance needs, and operability in various duty cycles.
As many of you are aware, we are in the process of selecting fleets to participate in Run on Less–Electric DEPOT. The goal of this Run is to gain a better understanding of what it takes to scale up from one or two electric vehicles to 15 or more. And we plan to share what we learn throughout the three weeks of the Run and afterward once we have had time to analyze the data from the trucks, chargers, and the depots themselves.
Now is the time for the trucking industry to move from the theoretical to the practical. We have plenty of theoretical information on which powertrain option is best suited for various duty cycles. But now we need to see how those assets perform in those duty cycles. Trucking has never been about the theoretical. For as long as I have been involved in the industry, we have focused on what is practical given the various challenges fleets face.
I challenge fleets of all sizes to help in this effort. If you’ve already added a truck or two, look into what it will take to scale up. If you have yet to explore any of the options other than diesel, now is the time to begin your exploration based on your needs and using the data that is available from fleets that have already tested these vehicles.
If we are going to move into a cleaner freight future, we need to move from the theoretical to the practical and the time to do that is now.
Michael Roeth has worked in the commercial vehicle industry for nearly 30 years, most recently as executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE). He serves on the second National Academy of Sciences Committee on Technologies and Approaches for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and has held various positions in engineering, quality, sales, and plant management with Navistar and Behr/Cummins.
