Converting a fleet of trucks from diesel to electric power can deliver many benefits. But launching such a project is harder than just plugging a cord into a wall outlet. Fleet operators can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks involved and decisions to make—from installing charging infrastructure to picking a truck model, training maintenance crews to repair it, mapping routes with charging stations, and deploying the vehicle on the most efficient route.
After all, logistics firms specialize in handling and delivering freight, not writing business plans. But the national nonprofit Calstart says it has a solution. The group draws on the lessons it has learned from managing programs for the state of California and shares that knowledge nationwide with fleets that are considering switching to electric power.
Like a personal trainer who helps clients reach their fitness goals, Calstart consults with trucking companies to help them get the most from their battery-powered trucks. That process often starts with a traveling showcase, where Calstart hosts a show-and-tell event about electric trucks. A recent event held in Natick, Massachusetts—near this magazine’s editorial offices—showed how the system works.
Visitors saw a virtual petting zoo of electric trucks parked on the grounds of a local farm and orchard. And like zoo animals, these trucks came in every size and shape, including a Freightliner Class 8 truck, Windrose Class 8 truck, BrightDrop Zevo 600 van, SEA body truck, Kenworth K270 Class 6 truck, and an Indigo Flex van along with Bollinger Motors’ B4 truck and Intelligent Labor & Moving’s SEA Electric/Hino box truck.
Just as wild animals thrive in certain environments, electric truck fleets can gain important support from regional or state business policies and incentives. Take Massachusetts, for instance. According to Calstart, Massachusetts supports the transition from diesel to electric models through policies like the state’s 2021 adoption of California’s own Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which requires vehicle manufacturers to increase the percentage of zero-emission trucks they sell in the state starting with model year 2025.
But electric trucks work just as well in any state. Business incentives make it easier, but supporters at the event said an EV (electric vehicle) fleet can pay off anywhere. Depending on a company’s goals, their electric trucks can help them reduce total cost of ownership, meet state climate goals, reduce their environmental impact, create a more sustainable brand image, and even attract a fresh wave of talent as new employees.
Fleet operators who attended the free event got hands-on tours of different models of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks and chatted with local fleet owners about their experiences operating them. Attendees also connected with electrification experts and learned how to access technical support and funding guidance through Calstart’s local partner organizations like the Mass Fleet Advisor program, which is administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).
And, of course, attendees got to play with the trucks. Logistics professionals who typically spend their days in a distribution center could be seen climbing in the truck beds, inspecting battery connections, and sitting behind the wheels. Even transportation and delivery managers sometimes need a day at the zoo.
