It’s hard to run heavy trucks without fossil fuels – especially in Australia. They’re big, heavy and cover long distances. Powering big rigs with today’s batteries suffers from added weight and cost. Then there’s recharging time.
For smaller trucks covering shorter distances, the task is much easier. The shift is already on in nations such as China. But many experts predict long-haul battery-electric trucks won’t beat diesel on total running costs until the 2030s, when battery prices have fallen far enough.
