In Switzerland, heavy goods vehicles are now powered by electricity, a world first. Since October 14, two trucks have been traveling the country’s roads, fully powered by electricity. Never before have such heavy – 40 tonnes – and so powerful trucks been built. Such models were until now confined to motor shows, without really launching production.
This truck model, already operational, is a classic heavy truck, from which the diesel engine has been removed to install four electric batteries of 900 kW / h. That’s enough to do 900 kilometers empty and 500 kilometers with a payload of 21 tons. Nine hours are enough to recharge it and its lifespan is ten years, over 1 million kilometers. It therefore has nothing to envy to trucks with thermal engines.
On the other hand, this raises the question of the cost and profitability of such equipment. “The real difference compared to a standard truck is the initial investment cost, in the order of six to seven times higher than a usual truck”, explains Clément Friderici, boss of Friderici Special, one of the two Swiss companies that bought this revolutionary truck. Despite this additional cost, the operation remains profitable according to him. “In Switzerland, we have what is called the heavy goods vehicle charge, linked to services. It costs 1 franc per kilometer traveled by our truck. An alternative energy vehicle – such as electricity – no longer pays this tax. With this advantage, an economic model therefore becomes possible again. “
In view of the cost of each truck, it is hard to imagine that all Swiss trucks are transformed into electric trucks overnight. Moreover, for the moment, the Friderici company has only one electric truck, against 69 thermal vehicles. However, his boss assures him: it is not about greenwashing, a selling point, but an awareness. “Greenwashing is not possible for us on this vehicle because the investment is such that we are really in the prospecting of new solutions.”
For Clément Friderici, the development of these trucks opens up a new perspective. “When one of my trucks burns a liter of diesel, I know it’s burnt forever. Today, about 95% of a battery is recycled. Now that we can see that it’s doable, I think the The speed at which the progress on these vehicles will go is going to be impressive. ” The environmental impact of this electric truck is also not negligible since it will save 141 tonnes of CO2 each year, or 141 Paris-New York return trips by plane.
There remains of course the question of batteries and their recycling. We know that they consume rare earths but, after ten years, they can be used to store energy. Clément Friderici even hopes, in the long term, to be able to recharge his electric truck only thanks to the electricity produced by photovoltaic panels.