Businesses that deploy commercial vehicles have faced constant pressure to transition their fleets to electric. While some may be willing, there’s a key factor that has made them hesitant to make such a dramatic change—a lacking electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
When commercial vehicles hit the road, they often have a destination to reach in a specific amount of time. Drivers can’t afford to get slowed down because their commercial EV ran out of power and there isn’t a nearby charging station. Until EV chargers that can handle heavy duty vehicles’ needs become more readily accessible, many companies are likely to stick with their gas-powered trucks and buses.
The federal government recently announced more than $600 million in Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grants to help build out an EV charging network throughout the U.S., but some companies aren’t willing to wait for that network to be deployed.
For example, Uber Freight and Greenlane announced a partnership to help accelerate the development and installation of public EV charging infrastructure for heavy duty battery electric vehicles (HD BEVs). The pairing combines technology company Uber Freight’s powering intelligent logistics expertise and Greenlane, a $650 million joint venture between Daimler Truck North America, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and BlackRock that provides commercial truck charging network services.
This collaboration will expedite the adoption and deployment of HD BEVs at scale and represents a critical step in determining how these vehicles can operate and distribute goods as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.
“I am delighted that we will be working with Uber Freight to accelerate BEV adoption and help reduce the carbon footprint of freight distribution,” Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO of Greenlane said in a statement. “Our national network of EV charging and hydrogen fueling stations together with our Uber Freight collaboration will make the electrification transition easier for shippers. Together, we will pave the way for a greener and more efficient future in logistics.”
Through this partnership, Greenlane will use insights from Uber Freight's logistics network, which represents $18 billion in active Freight Under Management, to uncover key learnings regarding the future development and installation of public charging stations on highways in North America.
Meanwhile, Uber Freight's vast network data will complement Greenlane’s own data analysis to determine corridors that are prime candidates for early HD BEV deployment, charging infrastructure needs, and the addressability of shipping lanes for electrification. The two organizations will also explore using Uber Freight’s marketplace technology to potentially create in-application charging appointment scheduling, surface Greenlane charging stations, fuel card discounts, and more directly to carriers.
“Electric trucks present a tremendous opportunity to help decarbonize supply chains and significantly reduce global emissions,” said Lior Ron, CEO of Uber Freight. “We are thrilled to work with Greenlane on this initiative, as this collaboration exemplifies our commitment to reducing the impact of logistics on the environment and further establishes Uber Freight as a leading logistics network choice for customers looking to adopt and deploy electric trucks.”
A recent Uber Freight and FreightWaves survey revealed that 13 percent of U.S. shippers said they are currently using electric trucks. Meanwhile, 77 percent indicated that they were considering them today or in the future. Additionally, Uber Freight found that shippers are willing to pay an extra $90 per load for green transportation using electric trucks or other renewable fuels. The lack of a publicly available, nationwide electric charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles has halted these shippers’ intentions, however.
Combining Uber Freight's network insights with Greenlane’s goal to build a nationwide charging network for commercial vehicles, the organizations enhance the ability to build public charging stations where they are most needed. This means fleets can confidently begin their transition towards zero emissions. The initiative helps the freight industry accelerate HD BEV adoption by addressing the unique challenges of sustainable logistics.
Greenlane has announced it will build its first charging corridors in Southern California, followed by the Texas Triangle and northeastern United States. Uber Freight used its own network data to better understand where charging stations are needed to meaningfully enable the deployment of HD BEVs and address sustainability challenges within the freight industry.
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