Moving Words – Electric Vehicles Part 1 (Cons)

Timothy Brady

“I think everything has its own pros and cons.” – Anushka Sharma

There’s a lot of discussion today on whether it’s time to start replacing some of the vehicles in a mover’s fleet with an Electric Commercial Vehicle (ECV). While there have been several advancements in the technology of the ECV, along with the increase in driving range and progression in lithium batteries, is the time right to start making the transition to an EV fleet?

The best way to find the answer is to look at the current pros and cons of ECV ownership and usefulness.

We’ll start by looking at the negatives to ECV ownership.

1. ECV Cost
   Electric trucks and vans (those typically used as pack vans in the moving industry) cost more up front than the conventional ones. An EV van costs about 12% to 15% more than combustion engine models. And if you add the larger capacity batteries, that can add an additional 10% to the initial cost. Keep in mind these ECVs are not a ‘plug into a standard 110v or 220v receptacle’; they require their own DC chargers, which are sold separately. According to the US Department of Energy, Commercial nonresidential DC fast-chargers range from $10,000 to $40,000. Keep in mind, while an EV requires roughly 90% fewer power-train parts, the price of the vehicle’s battery is the biggest reason for the cost disparity between an EV and internal-combustion vehicle.
2. Driving Range
   The Class 8 trucks range from 150 miles to 250 miles between charges. According to Peterbilt, their 579EV powertrain has a range of up to 150 miles, and when used with a recommended DC fast-charger, the battery packs recharge in three to four hours. This makes the 579EV ideal for regional haul, drayage, pickup and delivery, and last-mile operations. According to Freightliner, their eCascadia will charge to 80% capacity in 90 minutes and has a 250 mile range.
3. True cost of charging
   The biggest cost concern is, will you have enough electricity at the correct amps, volts and watts to set up your charging area for your ECVs? This will vary according to the number of EVs and their battery sizes. It’s highly recommended that you get together with your electricity provider along with a qualified electrical contractor to determine your power infrastructure needs, its availability, and cost.
4. ECV Maintenance and Repair
   EV Service is a whole other world: training for your mechanics, new tools, and new procedures. As an example, if an ECV is in an accident, it must be parked outside your shop for observation. Reason: You need to ensure all that voltage is under control and won’t lead to anything dangerous like a battery fire. Dana has an excellent series of ECV Maintenance videos you should watch prior to your decision. (https://www.dana.com/markets/commercial-vehicle/training/)
5. Battery Fires
   While lithium-ion fires are very unlikely, they’re very difficult to extinguish. These fires are extremely dangerous as they burn at temperatures equal to an acetylene torch. “Thermal runaway and multiple battery re-ignitions after initial fire suppression are safety risks in high-voltage lithium-ion battery fires,” the National Traffic Safety Board wrote in a safety report released in January of 2021 and addressing EV high-voltage and lithium-ion battery fires. As an example, according to KGO 7 News San Francisco, a fatal accident on US 101 in Mountain View, CA involved a Tesla X on March 23, 2018. Mountain View Fire Department Chief Juan Diaz said “Tesla recommends dousing a damaged battery pack with 3,000 gallons of water to keep it cool. Mountain View’s tanker truck only holds 500 gallons. Even after 24 hours of extinguishment, these (lithium) ion batteries could reignite if they’ve been damaged, and again cause a fire.” Know the new risks involving EVs and make sure you have the infrastructure to handle these risks. On an optimistic note, according to Silicon Valley-based QuantumScape (an American company that does research on solid state lithium metal batteries for EVs), solid-state batteries, which are in development through QuantumScape and Toyota, do not present flammability concerns. They’re also smaller and have about twice the energy density.
6. Power Backup
   With the extreme weather we’ve all experienced, the likelihood of an extended power outage is a very probable occurrence. Not having use of your EV fleet for several days could be devastating to your customer service and your bottom line. Of course, a natural gas generator can supply the backup power. However, for a fleet used to DC fast charging, the size and price of the generator becomes an additional, sizable cost depending on your charging needs. For instance, a Ford E-Transit van is rated for a 115kW fast charger which will provide 45 miles of range in 15 minutes. A 115kW generator to meet that power requirement is priced towards the north end of $30,000.
7. Lithium Battery Sourcing, Repurposing, Recycling, and Disposal
   Like all batteries, lithium batteries lose their ability to hold a charge over time, so replacement batteries will eventually need to be sourced. But be very careful where you obtain the replacement batteries, as all lithium batteries are not created the same. First, cobalt is very expensive. So, second, there are battery manufacturers who try and replace cobalt with manganese and iron. These batteries aren’t comparable with the high rate of energy drain required by an electric vehicle. And as a sad aside, there have been published reports where the cobalt used in EV batteries is mined using child labor in African mines.

We all are familiar with the recycling of lead acid batteries; most are recyclable. So what’s the case with lithium-ion batteries? Currently the reduction in available supply of cobalt from reliable and honorable sources has caused several companies looking to recycle the cobalt electrodes from lithium batteries by reusing them after saturating them with lithium. There’s another company, Panasonic, which introduced a new lithium-ion battery at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last year that contains only 5% cobalt. And, they’re developing a cobalt-free battery that should be available in the next year or two.

Keep in mind the technology regarding Electric Commercial Vehicles is moving forward at warp speed. There are several companies researching and developing solutions for many of the concerns on this list. Recently, (February 22, 2022) Cummins announced they are purchasing Meritor to accelerate electrification development. Tom Linebarger, Cummins chairman and CEO, said in a news release [this purchase] “will help us address one of the most critical technology challenges of our age: developing economically viable zero-carbon solutions for commercial and industrial applications.”

And please read the Part 2 March, 2022 Moving Words companion article ‘ECV Pro’ for the list of positives for moving into an Electric Commercial Vehicle fleet.

“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant