Looking ahead to the next decade of electric trucks

Along with the rest of the automotive sector, the medium and heavy-duty truck market is evolving. Governments around the world, recognising the potentially catastrophic repercussions of unfettered climate change and witnessing the detrimental impact on human health from vehicle exhaust pollutant emissions in urban environments, are taking decisive action, that will, in the coming decades, drive vehicle manufacturers to zero on-road exhaust emission power train solutions. Consequently, the days of the fossil fuel-powered combustion engine are numbered.

The need for green

In the face of tightening CO2 emission legislation for new trucks, that will be difficult to meet in the relatively near future with a fossil fuel combustion engine, and increasing pressure to limit exposure to hazardous air pollutants in city centres, that are in large part the result of on-road transportation, a much cleaner source of power is required for future medium and heavy-duty trucks. This need is compounded by increasing demand for freight delivery as the retail industry grows its online sales platforms and people gradually abandon private car ownership for mobility as a service (MaaS) platforms.

It is already clear that it is impossible for ICE-powered fuel efficiency improvements to deliver the required emission reductions in the long-term. The future is either battery-electric or fuel cell electric vehicles. They deliver a zero on-road emission solution, that immediately protects people from PM and NOx emissions in urban areas and passes the burden of decarbonisation from vehicle manufacturers on to the generators of electricity.

Diesel and petrol combustion engines are already a technology of the past, prudent companies in the automotive industry are already transitioning themselves toward the electric and fuel cell supply chain. All major truck OEMS are now investing in zero-emission trucks projects for fear of being left behind.

The IDTechEx ‘Electric Truck 2020-2030’ report is intended to help businesses across the automotive value chain plan for the future in this rapidly changing market. The report provides 48 forecast lines for battery electric and fuel cell electric trucks, that include a ten-year outlook for vehicle production, market penetration and market value, with separate forecasts for both the medium and heavy-duty truck markets and regional segmentation for China, North America, Europe and ROW.

An up-to-date overview of the battery and fuel cell electric truck market is provided in the report, with detail about current demonstration projects and efforts by major players in the industry to commercialise zero-emission trucks, across each of the key regions. The report presents background to technology development in the electric truck market, including fuel cells and electric hybridisation, along with a discussion of key enabling technologies for electric truck deployment such as batteries, motors and charging infrastructure.

IDTechEx ‘Electric Truck 2020-2030’ forecast segmentation:

• By truck weight; with separate medium and heavy-duty forecasts
• By technology; battery-electric (incorporating all-electric and hybrid-electric trucks) and fuel cell electric trucks.
• By geography; North America, China, Europe (EU + EFTA) and ROW as well as an aggregate global forecast.
• Ten year outlook; production, market penetration (%), market revenue ($) and battery capacity requirement (GWh)