Published: 21 November 2018

While the cost of diesel fuel has risen steadily over the last decade, in 2020, the price could jump by 30%. The International Maritime Organization has taken steps to reduce the amount of sulphur pollution caused by ships, leading some to predict that these vessels will convert to diesel fuel, resulting in a significant demand related price hike.

With the rising cost of fossil fuels plus increasing taxes intended to reduce our reliance on them, it certainly seems that it is the time to take a serious look at the overall cost/benefit of electric vehicles for long-haul trucking.

But what’s actually available? Let’s have a look.

Tesla – They may be top of mind when it comes to electric vehicles, but Tesla has pushed back production an all-electric semi from next year to 2020. Walmart Canada, among others, has already ordered 40 at an estimated price of $150,000 to $200,000. It is a beauty, with its sleek, futuristic design. See photos and specs from Tesla. 

Thor – Reportedly planning to beat Tesla to production, the U.S. start-up Thor, has designed the class 8 ET-One. It has a range of 300 miles and an estimated cost of $150,000. It has the sleek features of the Tesla, but with sort of a snub nose. See photos and specs from Thor. 

Freightliner – A much more familiar name in the trucking industry, Freightliner has also introduced an electric class 8 tractor. Penske Truck Leasing and NFI Industries will have test models on the road soon, and full production is expected in 2021. The eCascadia semi has a more traditional look, but is still pretty awesome. See photos and specs here. 

Nikola – Also set to launch by 2021 is the Nikola One, an electric semi with a huge range and huge price tag. While it is estimated to be capable of 1,200 miles on a full charge, whether that is worth a $375,000 investment is yet to be seen. See photos and specs. 

There are many more auto companies going down the electric truck path, but most, to-date anyway, are building for urban or regional use, with much shorter ranges. So the next question for long-haulers, is what facilities will be available for charging on those intercity routes. Let’s hope we see as much interest in power stations as there is in manufacturing electric semis.

Ameri-Can Logistics Ltd. is a trucking company servicing shipping ports, railroad depots, and communities throughout North America. Operating 24/7/365 with continuous dispatch services, businesses have relied on Ameri-Can to distribute their products to buyers in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, for three decades.