Page 43 - ATR 3 2022 digital

maximum allowable weight would have
to use more trucks, increasing emissions.
A small number of electric heavy-
“IT SEEMS AS THOUGH POLICIES ARE BEING CREATED duty trucks are on the road today, while
TO CHECK A BOX OR APPEASE A CERTAIN PORTION hydrogen fuel cell trucks will not be
commercially available for two or three
OF THE POPULATION WHO PERCEIVES SOMETHING years. Much remains unknown about
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE AS FAR AS THE their actual performance once used in
ACTUAL IMPACT OF FORCING THE INDUSTRY TO mass quantities.
MOVE TO ELECTRIC TRUCKS.” BETTER OPTIONS AND POLICIES
TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
—SHANNON NEWTON, The report notes that improvements
ARKANSAS TRUCKING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT can be made to electric trucks that
would allow batteries to store more
energy, weigh less and last longer –
reducing their life-cycle emissions. As
batteries can require lithium, graphite, The report notes that a move to U.S. electricity producers lessen their
cobalt, manganese and nickel, almost ZETs would come at a significant cost to emissions per kilowatt-hour, the total
none of which are currently produced trucking companies. While diesel trucks amount of carbon associated with
in the United States. cost $135,000 to $150,000, battery electric trucks should fall as well.
Instead, 82% of the world’s graphite electric Class 8 trucks can cost as much Likewise, the technologies for
and 14% of the world’s lithium are as $450,000, and fuel cell trucks cost producing hydrogen used in fuel cell
produced in China. The United States $200,000 to $600,000. Moreover, vehicles could improve so that less
does have significant lithium reserves hydrogen isn’t cheap. carbon dioxide is emitted. In particular,
but has only one large mine. It instead But the sticker price isn’t the a process that is being researched
relies on Latin America or Australia only source of increased costs. ZETs known as solar-based high-temperature
for the raw material and China and will require a new fueling approach steam electrolysis theoretically could
other Asian countries for battery cell and changes to trucking’s operational reduce carbon dioxide emissions by
production. China is the world’s lithium structure because of decreased range. more than 91%.
battery production leader, with more ATRI is preparing another report about Meanwhile, biodiesel and
than 90 battery cell manufacturing the infrastructure needed to charge renewable diesel vehicles are already in
facilities compared to four in the United trucks nationwide and about the use and could greatly reduce emissions
States. Likewise, 70.5% of the world’s electricity sector’s capability to meet the without requiring an entirely new
cobalt is produced in the Democratic trucking industry’s needs. fueling infrastructure or radically
Republic of Congo, which like China There are other challenges changing the way trucking companies
has serious human rights concerns. associated with electric trucks. Batteries do business.
take longer to charge and have less Biodiesel is manufactured from
THE COST, DOWN TIME, WEIGHT range in cold weather, and they degrade feedstock such as vegetable oils and
The move to zero-emission trucks faster at higher temperatures. Use of an animal fats that are either blended
is being both incentivized and required air-conditioner or heater by the driver with petroleum-based diesel or used in
by government agencies. The California reduces their driving range considerably. pure form. Biodiesel is already used in
Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced The batteries would have to weigh more the United States. In 2019, 1.8 billion
Clean Trucks rule requires medium- than 17,000 pounds to ensure the truck gallons were consumed in the United
and heavy-duty manufacturers to could travel 500 miles on a charge, States, a not-insignificant percentage
sell increasing percentages of ZETs. reducing available cargo weight. At the of the 36.5 billion gallons of diesel
Seventeen states have signed a moment, no known Class 8 electric fuel consumed overall. Pure biodiesel
memorandum of understanding that trucks reach more than 300 miles per over its life cycle produces 72.4% lower
likewise would set ZET quotas for charge. The report says a long-haul diesel emissions than petroleum-based diesel,
manufacturers starting in 2030. CARB tractor weighs 18,216 pounds, while the downsides being that it doesn’t
has also drafted an Advanced Clean a battery electric truck would weigh perform well in cold weather, and it
Fleets rule requiring motor carriers to 32,016, with some savings achieved affects truck warranties. Most biodiesel
begin buying an increasing percentage through the lack of a powertrain. is consumed as part of a blend.
of ZETs starting in 2025. Carriers operating closer to the 

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2022 43