The total cost of ownership (TCO) of trucks is known as one of the main decision-making factors by logistics operators for adopting alternative powertrains such as battery electric trucks (BETs). In this new study, a very detailed levelized cost of driving (LCOD) model to analyse the TCO of BETs and conventional trucks (CTs) was developed in medium and heavy-duty truck weight classes.
The model that is presented in the article has methodological advancements such as developing opportunity costs for charging activities, using a detailed operational time calculation, and analysing the optimum driving ranges or battery sizing. By implementing an extensive sensitivity analysis of LCOD for CTs and BETs over 43 variables, the model revealed that the key parameters including operational driving range, battery pack price, state of charge of battery, driver cost, “mid-shift” charging power, ambient temperature, opportunity charging, and driving speed have major have an impact on the cost competitiveness of BETs vs. CTs. In addition, the impact of battery and charging technology improvements as well as designing optimum driving ranges were examined in three different operational trip profiles (urban, short-haul or regional, long-haul).
The results of the article show that:
1) BETs in urban trip profiles with the current and/or short-term battery technology might be economically viable alternatives for CTs without the help of the policy measures,
2) BETs with below 40 t gross vehicle weight and the long-term improvements in battery technology in all the operational trip profiles might be economically viable alternatives for CTs without the help of the policy measures, and
3) the implementation of policy measures affecting the relative costs of CTs and BETs and development of fast-charging facilities would be needed to support the above 40 t BETs in short-haul and long-haul trips for the current and/or short-term as well as mid-term battery technologies.
The article is available open access in Applied Energy: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924003593.