A recent study conducted a thorough analysis of the market growth and practical applications of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in Yulin city, Shaanxi province, China. The research focused on heavy-duty battery electric and fuel-cell electric trucks, specifically examining the total cost of ownership (TCO) and economic benefits of using battery electric tractor trailers in coal freight compared to diesel tractor-trailers based on real-world data.
In addition to this, the study also compared various business models for battery swapping trucks, with a particular emphasis on those utilizing battery-as-a-service (BaaS) models. This innovative approach offers flexibility to buyers by converting a significant portion of capital expenditure into an operational expense, potentially making it a more appealing option than purchasing entire electric trucks outright.
The findings of the research indicate that ZETs show great promise in terms of both operational and economic performance, despite challenges such as lower payload capacity. The study suggests that innovative financing models and policy incentives for ZETs could further enhance their appeal to fleet operators by addressing some of these obstacles.
