Worldwide, numerous businesses and governments are showing interest in commercial vehicles that run off of electricity, rather than being gas-powered. And while your average man on the street may not be able to afford to make the leap from gas-powered to hybrid, some big businesses have the funds needed to make the move easily. They can certainly make a case for future savings on fuel, and goodness knows, they should have no problem absorbing the ”going electric” costs.
So, is time running out for diesel and petrol-powered buses, trucks, vans, and cars? The roads of the world may soon be overtaken by the electric vehicle revolution.
Other Countries Are Already on Board
By 2025, there is a plan in place to rid the city centers of diesels in Athens, Mexico City, Madrid, and Paris – according to their mayors. And as of 2040, the sale of diesel or petrol-powered cars will be banned in the UK. and France. When it comes to the carmakers of the world, some have already switched over to making nothing but electric vehicles. Others are offering a choice between gas powered and hybrid.
And this doesn’t just apply to cars specifically. Since bigger vehicles pollute more them tiny cars, trucks and vans are figuring into the switch to electric, as well. In Europe, some 20% of greenhouse gas emissions are contributed by heavy-duty trucks, even though commercial vehicles make up only 5% of the vehicles on the road. Even in Australia, with all that wide-open space, electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular. Kings Transport, a Melbourne-based logistics firm, just added nine electric light trucks and vans to their fleet.
At Deutsche Post, they are building their own Electric vans (in Germany), and selling them to the rest of the world.
Electric Vehicles in United States
By 2030, the plan is to have an entirely emissions-free bus fleet running through the city of Los Angeles. The IEA (International Energy Agency) is of the opinion that, worldwide, around 600 million vehicles will need to be electrified by the end of the century. This is in order to achieve their new goal: by the end of the century, keep the rise in global temperatures below 2C.
Again, however, this won’t just include passenger cars since, when to comes to commercial vehicles on the roads of the earth, there are over 300 million in existence.
Where Do Electric Vehicles Get Electricity?
Cars, trucks, and buses will need to recharge at recharging stations. These will, of course, need to be built/installed all over the world, on roads everywhere. When it comes to light commercial vehicles, it was originally thought that they could charge late at night, while their drivers rest. Electricity is, after all, cheaper during nonpeak hours. But if everyone starts charging their vehicles at night, this is going to put a whole new demand on electricity – changing dramatically the dynamics of electricity consumption. Will this make a difference? Time will tell.
Big Businesses Take the Plunge
Already switching to electric vans and trucks are some of today’s biggest names in business. One particular electric van (that is part of a nationwide program entitled Workhouse) has found its way into the FedEx fleet in New York. Hybrid electric vehicles will be used in the New York located Verizon fleets as well. In fact, they have taken out over 230 of their gas-powered vans and replaced them with XL Hybrids technology.
Of course we all don’t have access to these fancy trucks and cars as of yet. And even when we do, many of us won’t be able to afford them. The good news is that, thanks to Mickey Genuine Parts owned or authorized service centers, you can keep your faithful old truck or van emission healthy. We stand behind our service just like we stand behind all of our parts and vehicles. Contact us today if you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment at one of our nationwide service centers.