Europe is having a hard time lately, with skyrocketing oil prices dampening economies. Fuel costs, particularly diesel, are prompting surging interest in truck electrification. Europe has been urging truck makers to move toward electric trucking, and they have responded with a variety of electric semi trucks from many manufacturers. Europe is a group of sovereign countries with many standards. The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 states in that area. It issued directives urging action and imposing penalties. In response to European Union directives, companies have formed EV100, a coalition of corporations responding to the need. In a recent story, Steve Hanley wrote about European electric truck makers’ difficulties expanding truck electrification. Here’s a quotation from the story: “In a letter to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, of primary concern, in their estimation, is expanding the charging infrastructure for heavy-duty trucks in Europe.” There is no shortage of electric trucks in Europe. Expansion could go faster were it not for charging infrastructure. Manufacturers complain about “an alarming delay” in conditions needed to drive market uptake. For Europe, truck electrification is not working as well as in China, where over 90% of the world’s electric trucks reside. The differences between China and the EU show some reasons why truck electrification is slower in Europe. How did China succeed where the EU failed? China made electric trucks a freight system, not a vehicle category.

Power is a major factor in electric grid infrastructure.

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