Electrifying trucks and other fleets: Utility infrastructure will be critical

Panel: 6. Energy-efficient and low-carbon mobility for all

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Steven M. Nadel, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), USA

Abstract

As electric grids get cleaner, the use of electric vehicles becomes a central decarbonization strategy; this means trucks as well as passenger vehicles. In the U.S., buses and freight trucks account for less than 5 % of vehicles but about 28 % of greenhouse gas emissions. Many trucks are part of fleets, including delivery vehicles, buses, garbage trucks and tractor-trailers. Discussions with electric truck manufacturers indicate that a large barrier to fleet electrification is having adequate power on-site to charge vehicles. Fleet charging can require several megawatts of power, with loads of 20 MW or more in some applications; fleet depots can have power needs similar to many factories. In order to supply this power, utilities need to assess customer charging needs and incorporate findings into the planning of local distribution grids. Needed updates will often include new transformers, sometimes include new feeders, and at times require substation upgrades. In the U.S. a few utilities are taking a proactive approach to prepare for fleet electrification, but most utilities have barely started. This paper characterizes this emerging issue and provides case studies on how several leading utilities are preparing for electric fleets, providing models for other utilities.