Global consulting firm Roland Berger has published a study projecting the infrastructure required to support electric medium and heavy-duty trucks will cost over $1 trillion.
This analysis, conducted on behalf of the Clean Freight Coalition, projects a $620 billion investment for the construction of new charging stations, chargers, and site infrastructure, in addition to increased utility service fees. An estimated $496 billion is predicted to be needed for on-site charging stations alone. Heavy-duty truck chargers could cost as much as $145,000 per vehicle, with medium-duty models coming in at $54,000.
The study anticipates that utilities must contribute approximately $370 billion to upgrade the grid to meet the heightened electricity demand brought on by electric truck charging. The report also expects an investment of $69 billion to establish local on-route charging and an additional $57 billion for a highway charging network for long-haul trucking opportunities.
Roland Berger recommends exploring alternative routes for decarbonization, considering the prohibitive investments associated with electric fleet transition. They also warn of the possibility of increased freight costs, which could impact consumers, without sufficient government and regulatory support.
Increased state support for electrification could also hurt consumers by leading to an increased burden in terms of tax and government debt.