A new data analysis published directly challenges the narrative that electrifying long-haul freight corridors is unattainable with today’s technology. The report, Data Insights to Inform Truck Electrification Along the I-10 Corridor, a collaboration between the Smart Freight Centre (SFC), Altitude by Geotab, and Terawatt Infrastructure, reveals that the current operational realities of heavy-duty diesel trucking on the I-10 corridor are highly compatible with existing battery-electric vehicle (BEV) capabilities.
The analysis, which aggregated anonymized telematics data from more than 72,000 heavy-duty trucks over a one-year period, shows that the duty cycle of heavy-duty trucks on the I-10 is already conducive to electrification.
Key Findings Demonstrating Achievable Electrification:
- Current Range is Sufficient for Most Legs: The majority of heavy-duty operations are not continuous, full-corridor treks, but a series of shorter, manageable segments. The data confirms the required distances align with current EV capabilities: 62% of driving legs are under 200 miles, a distance serviceable by most mid-range electric trucks, and 82% are under 400 miles, placing them within reach of long-range models.
- Charging Can Be Integrated into Existing Schedules: The data shows a critical correlation: longer driving legs are naturally followed by longer stops. With the median stop duration for a 300+ mile leg increasing to over 90 minutes, and 30% of all end-of-leg stops lasting more than 10 hours, charging can be integrated into current operational schedules with minimal disruption.
- Significant Economic and Environmental Opportunity: Electrifying just the driving legs under 200 miles, which account for roughly 21% of the total miles driven on or around the I-10, could save over 138 million gallons of diesel fuel and prevent 9.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The report emphasizes that the strategic development of truck charging infrastructure is the key to realizing the full potential of the corridor, serving as a blueprint for electrifying North America’s freight backbone.
Review and download the full report below to learn how you can shift the conversation around long-haul electrification.
