What About Electric Trucks?

Part of the reason electric cars, for now, are rather small is because there’s only so much power in those batteries.  Make no mistake, the strides made in alternative power for cars has been remarkable, but it is also somewhat limited.  The biggest limitations are distance and the size of the vehicle.  While there are smaller trucks used right now that are electric, semi-trucks and buses, which do account for a good portion of the fossil fuels consumed, are left out.

Frito Lay uses electric trucks in California that can travel 80 miles on a single charge

So, what about trucks?  The biggest challenge right now is that the battery to run a big truck or an interstate bus line would be so ridiculously huge, the truck would need a second truck just to carry the battery for the first truck.  And, a four passenger bus isn’t very sensible either.

Enter power lines… in the roads.  While the technology is far from perfect, the idea is an interesting one.  Researchers at Volvo are working on a way to electrify the highways so that trucks, buses, and presumably cars, can travel along for great distances without the need for a recharge. 

Problems abound.  Rebuilding the entire interstate system is one.  Another issue is just how to get the power from the road into the car.  While these are no small hurdles, some of the advances the auto industry has seen just in the last 5 to 8 years in alternative energy vehicles has been revolutionary.

Of course, if vehicles constantly run without the need to pull over and refuel we may create another problem:  Where will we take a potty break and who is going to make us a frozen Coke?