When ArcBest tested a Class 8 electric semi-truck between service centers in Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California, the EV met performance expectations but one challenge the LTL carrier highlighted was the need for more robust charging infrastructure.
During its three-week pilot, ArcBest determined there was a need for more charging spots to adequately match those performance needs. For its test, the carrier selected a lane with heavy-duty chargers at both ends to maintain its dispatch schedule without disruption. But the setup is the exception and not the norm, a spokesperson for the company told Trucking Dive in an email.
“While charging worked well in this controlled scenario, the current availability of high-capacity chargers is limited. Expanding infrastructure will be essential to support broader electrification of over-the-road operations,” the spokesperson said.
While charging infrastructure remains a challenge, the number of EV charging stations across California has grown. WattEV recently broke ground for a new charging depot at the Port of Oakland and a Northwest Seaport Alliance grant will assist Zeem Solutions to build an EV charging facility in SeaTac, Washington.
ArcBest’s Class 8 EV pilot operated with standard freight loads and pulled full-length trailers, hauling the typical mix of cargo the carrier handles daily. “The electric Semi logged 4,494 miles, averaging 321 miles per day with an overall energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile,” according to a July 9 press release.
The carrier is focused on applying what it learned during the pilot to identify additional use cases and transit lanes where electric semis can deliver similar results, the spokesperson said.
The pilot also got positive driver feedback — with operators noting the vehicle’s comfort, safety and ease of use.
“We’re not looking for a truck that performs well ‘for an EV,’” Matt Godfrey, ABF Freight president, said in the release. “It must meet or exceed the performance and total cost of ownership targets of our most efficient diesel units. This pilot gives us great insight into the potential of electric semis in our operations,” he said.
While this was the company’s first pilot of a Class 8 over-the-road electric semi, it’s not its first involvement with EVs. ArcBest operates two class 6 EV straight trucks, nine EV yard tractors and two electric forklifts, per the release.
“Our customers increasingly value partners who are forward-thinking and environmentally responsible,” the spokesperson said. “Continuing to explore and adopt electric vehicles is one of the ways we are delivering a reliable, premium service while helping our customers meet their own sustainability goals.
