As the world moves toward sustainable development, the logistics industry is undergoing a revolutionary shift toward electrification. In 2023, electric truck sales surged by 35% compared to the previous year, capturing widespread industry attention. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), this trend is far from coincidental—it's being driven by ambitious environmental policies, declining costs, and corporate carbon reduction goals.
The Infrastructure Challenge
While electrification progress varies between short-haul and long-haul freight, the expansion of charging infrastructure remains critical. The need for frequent charging during long-distance transport makes this transition particularly complex.
"Providing sufficient power supply and covering the costs for electric fleets represents the greatest barrier to electrification,"
said Professor David Cebon of Cambridge University's Department of Engineering. With road transport accounting for 12.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the potential impact of electrification on carbon reduction is significant.
Industry Adoption Varies
Electric vehicle adoption currently ranks as the 13th most important trend in the 2023 logistics sector, with 17% of logistics decision-makers considering it highly relevant to their operations. The fashion and lifestyle industry shows the strongest support, with 24% of executives deeming electrification crucial, compared to just 10% in the fresh produce sector.
"Light loads and short-distance transport are particularly suitable for electrification," Professor Cebon explained. "Fashion items tend to be lightweight, while fresh produce often involves heavier cargo."
The Heavy-Duty Dilemma
Decarbonizing heavy trucks presents unique challenges. These vehicles typically travel ten times the annual mileage of passenger cars, significantly increasing the complexity of emissions reduction.
"Hydrogen-powered trucks face poor prospects," Cebon noted. "Their purchase and operating costs far exceed electric trucks, while EV prices continue to decline rapidly."
According to the Global EV Outlook 2024 report, China leads the electric truck market, accounting for 70% of global sales in 2023—though down from 85% in 2022. Europe saw nearly triple the electric truck sales, surpassing 10,000 units , while U.S. sales grew to 1,200 units —still less than 0.1% of total truck sales, indicating substantial growth potential.
Regulatory Momentum
New U.S. heavy-vehicle emission regulations are expected to drive zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales to 60% across various market segments. Meanwhile, EU CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) mandate a 90% emissions reduction by 2040, further accelerating logistics electrification.
2023 EU legislation requires regular installation of public charging stations for electric trucks along highways and in major cities. However, long-haul fleets still require significantly more infrastructure.
"Long-haul electric trucks typically need charging every four hours,"
Cebon emphasized. "Research shows fleets avoid public truck stops, preferring scheduled breaks or loading/unloading times for charging. Inconvenient highway charging adds journey time and costs—a major financial burden for businesses."
Strategic charging—utilizing overnight charging at depots, charging during loading/unloading at logistics facilities, and leveraging mandatory driver rest periods—emerges as the key solution for long-haul electrification.
Progress Across Continents
The industry is making tangible progress. Milence launched the UK's first dedicated electric truck charging facility in March 2023, with plans for European expansion. California has established regulations for electric haulage trucks by 2035 and targets full heavy-duty electrification by 2045 , incentivizing charging infrastructure investment.
Through these concerted efforts, logistics electrification is advancing rapidly—paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient global transport system.
