Altitude by Geotab has officially the results from its latest study, which was tasked with analyzing 2024 aggregated data from connected commercial vehicles.
Going by the available details, this particular study would go on to reveal how an estimated 58% of medium-duty trucks and 41% of heavy-duty trucks may be ideally suited for electrification because they drive less than 250 miles between visits to their depots.
To understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account how electric trucks have emerged as a genuine breakthrough for fleets that are now increasingly seeking cost-effective solutions. You see, electric trucks offer lower fuel and maintenance costs, making them an attractive option for improving efficiency and sustainability.
In fact, according to Geotab’s recently launched Sustainability Report, the number of Geotab-connected EVs grew by 63% year-over-year and those commercial EVs traveled over 700 million miles (over 1 billion kilometers).
The Altitude study, in that regard, focused on medium-duty (Classes 3-6) and heavy-duty (Classes 7-8) trucks. It generated data from driving patterns, routes, distances and stops to determine the feasibility of electric truck adoption and identify strategic locations for charging infrastructure.
Talk about the given report on a slightly deeper level, we begin from how the study in question treads up a long distance to reveal that, like we briefly touched upon; 41% of heavy-duty trucks drive short distances (less than 250 miles), making them promising candidates for electrification. Hence, understanding duty cycles and stop durations should come in handy for figuring out charging windows and infrastructure requirements.
Almost like an extension of that, we now must get into the point of strategic infrastructure placement. Even though depot-based charging provides a strong foundation, it remains critical to understand existing truck stop locations and truck driving behaviors, if fleet managers are to maximize the opportunity for wider electrification.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the prospect of leveraging partnerships to achieve transformation at scale. As successful electrification requires close collaboration between fleet operators and utilities, utilities must anticipate and prepare for increased electricity demand, while simultaneously providing the necessary infrastructure to support electric truck adoption.
“The trucking industry is undergoing a significant transformation,” said Nate Veeh, AVP of Market Development at Altitude by Geotab. “Our analysis reveals that a substantial portion of medium- and heavy-duty trucks have daily driving patterns that are well-suited for electrification, where they wouldn’t need to drive more than 250 miles between charges. By using data insights, utilities and other key stakeholders can pinpoint where truck concentrations are and understand their aggregate driving behaviors, to make informed decisions in terms of truck electrification and the subsequent demands on energy grids and location of EV charging networks.”
