Canada\u2019s ambitious timelines to decarbonize the nation\u2019s medium- and heavy-duty trucks is achievable, but will require the fast deployment of charging infrastructure and much more investment than has been allocated to date, reports Today\u2019s Trucking.<\/p>\n
Citing a report from the Pembina Institute, titled\u00a0Zero-emission MHDVs in Canada and required charging infrastructure,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Today\u2019s Trucking points out that experts recognize the need to decarbonize the goods transport sector, but the federal government\u2019s investment in providing electric charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty trucks lags what\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n The Pembina Institute says that to date, the feds have committed only $1 billion of the $5 billion needed to support the anticipated number of electric trucks on the road by 2030.<\/p>\n Pembina modeling suggests that by 2030, the segment will require: 70,000 Level 2 private depot chargers, increasing to 450,000 by 2050; 6,500 Level 3 public chargers by 2030, increasing to 50,000 by 2050; and 2,000 hydrogen fueling stations by 2030, increasing to 30,000 in 2050.<\/p>\n Adam Thorn, director of the Pembina Institute\u2019s transportation program and an author of the report, told James Menzies of TT that he thinks it\u2019s possible to achieve,<\/p>\n \u201cI absolutely do think they are doable,\u201d he said of the federal government\u2019s timelines, calling for 35% of new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales to be zero emissions by 2030, and 100% by 2040. \u201cBut I think they have to be done in a very smart way. We\u2019re advocating for a phased-in approach. We need to focus on those areas in which we have some low-hanging fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n This means focusing initially on applications that are easy to electrify today, such as smaller delivery vehicles with predictable routes and frequent returns to the home depot for charging.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re ready to go now,\u201d Thorn said of these vehicles, mainly in the Classes 2B to 5 categories. \u201cThey tend to have relatively short, predictable routes. They return to the barn at the end of the day so there\u2019s lots of opportunities there for that charging. By focusing on those vehicles that are ready to go, we think we can move very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n Charging infrastructure for those vehicles will primarily be installed at depots, but the report suggests the federal government assist in funding that infrastructure and not expect industry to bear the entire cost.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our recommendations was to carve out a specific piece of the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program for those types of vehicles, and depot charging specifically,\u201d Thorn said. \u201cThen what we\u2019re hoping is the learnings, the innovation, the technology development in those segments will trickle up to those heavier categories.\u201d<\/p>\n When deploying public charging stations for trucks, the Pembina report suggests focusing initially on freight corridors, such as Toronto-Montreal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can focus on those areas in which there\u2019s a lot of trucking,\u201d reasoned Thorn.<\/p>\n The report recommends installing at least one charging and hydrogen refueling station every 60 km along key sections of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway by 2030. The distance between hydrogen refueling stations should be less than 150 km, the report suggests, with each having capacity greater than 2 tonnes\/day.<\/p>\n There are also questions as to whether the electric grids in Canada can support the widespread electrification of medium and heavy trucks.<\/p>\n While government funding will play a significant role if the trucking industry is to meet the federal government\u2019s timelines, fleets too will need to invest. And those investments will be sizeable.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand their reluctance. Many small fleets simply don\u2019t have the capacity for this. So, we\u2019re seeing the large fleets \u2026 to do this because they can take on some of that risk and they have that capacity. As those big fleets begin to roll out, we\u2019re going to see this industry mature. We\u2019re going to see it in more vehicles and technology is going to develop. We\u2019re going to see more infrastructure. I think taking a longer view is something we need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The full report can be viewed\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The full Today\u2019s Trucking article can be viewed here.<\/a><\/p>\n