Electric vehicles; part of the solution

With some of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers driving technology forward in the goods transport sector – highlighted by this week’s launch of  the Tesla and Volvo prototype electric and partly automated trucks – IRU underlines that CO2 reductions through new innovations need to respect purpose-driven logistics criteria.

IRU embraces innovation and recognises the significance of the contributions made to the mobility landscape by the goods transport sector. Recent developments on electric and autonomous truck concepts from Daimler, Einride, Nikola One, Tesla and Volvo are evidence of the commitment from the private sector to find solutions to the challenges of sustainability, climate change and road safety.

IRU’s 30 by 30 Resolution clearly highlighted that innovative logistic concepts, such as optimised weights and dimensions of heavy commercial vehicles, can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than 10% - but equally, other areas such as training and eco-driving are also key to the equation.

The Commercial Vehicle of the Future Report reinforced this message that only a holistic investment in improvements in training, operational efficiency, new technologies and infrastructure can ensure that transport operators successfully meet their environmental obligations and continue to be the drivers of economic growth.

The latest advances in truck design are exciting – but electric vehicles are one of the solutions. The complexities of long distance commercial goods transport, where trucks are principally a production tool – require a prioritisation of factors such as range, cost and battery weight if these innovations are to succeed.