New study: Infrastructure needed to support a ‘zero emissions’ electric trucking fleet comes with a $1 trillion price tag

American Thinker ^ | 05/30/2024 | Olivia Murray

[SeekAndFind]

“We’re facing an unfunded, $1 trillion mandate that carries enormous consequences for the American consumer.” At least that’s what Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations President and CEO has to say about one D.C. diktat coming down from on high in particular, and that is the one mandating that the American trucking industry bend to EPA rules requiring all electric fleets and production lines.

Here’s the context, from March of this year:

On March 29, 2024, Good Friday, Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled out its new electric truck mandate, which will require that electric semi-trucks make up an increasing share of manufacturer sales from 2027 through 2032, similar to its recent rule for passenger cars.

There’s a new report out though, from Roland Berger and published by the Clean Freight Coalition, which stresses the unaffordability and impracticality of the rules and regulations, as they stand:

New Report Pegs Cost of Electrifying U.S. Commercial Truck Fleet at $1 Trillion

Full electrification of the U.S. commercial truck fleet would require nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure investment alone, according to a new report from Roland Berger released today by the Clean Freight Coalition. The study forecasts a realistic infrastructure buildout for the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, exposing what the CFC calls a massive investment gap as state and federal policymakers mandate increased adoption rates of battery-electric commercial vehicles.

And it’s not like CFC is some oil-industry front group; from the group’s own website:

The Clean Freight Coalition  is an alliance of truck transportation stakeholders committed to a clean energy future for America’s trucking industry. 

“Stakeholders” pushing for a “clean energy” tomorrow? Sounds honestly like a World Economic Forum affiliate.

[Red Badger]

Just print them dollars up!................

[Gay State Conservative]

It'll be fun watching 18 Wheeler EVs in the Rockies and the Sierras...particularly in the winter.

[Jeff Chandler]

Local fleets, maybe. Over the road, forget about it.

Although hybrids might make sense.

[Signalman]

Idiots are running this country. The EV scam is just one example.

[butlerweave]

Green now means Scam

[ridesthemiles]

There will no longer be any insurance company that will insure a truckers load if delays would cause losses.

[usurper]

The battery will weigh more than the cargo.

[gibsonguy]

At the end of the day it is always “follow the money” to find out what is driving everyone into misery.

[qaz123]

All over Georgia they’re building ‘distribution centers’, formerly known as warehouses. Many of them are sitting empty.

Taking to someone I know well, who’s high up in the logistics world, said that they’re being built because of what California is doing with forcing electric trucks. The “brain trusts”(sarc) feel that will result in the cargo ships diverting to the Gulf of Mexico and east coast.

Can’t imagine what the increase shipping costs would be. It takes 8-10hours for a ship to go through Panama Canal. And if not mistaken, the water between South America and Antarctica can be very treacherous depending on the season.

And then there’s this go:

The reality of battery-electric trucks. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6VlYYM_KtFA&pp=ygUTZWxlY3RyaWMgc2VtaSB0cnVjaw%3D%3D

Trucker DESTROYS Electric Vehicle Narrative in Under 2 Minutes

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDF-CQlzh8&pp=ygUkUHJvYmxlbSB3aXRoIGVsZWN0cmljIGxvZ2dpbmcgdHJ1Y2tz

Facts…….they are a bitch sometimes

[ken in texas]

And if that estimate is like the estimates for other massive projects, it's far too low. Probably should be somewhere around 9 to 14 trillion to be close to the actual spend. /only somewhat sarcastic

[rmichaelj]

For a forty foot container it costs about a third more to get to Houston vs Los Angeles. ($4300 vs $3200). Given how much a forty foot container holds that is a pittance. I’m shocked that they still send anything with a destination east of the continental divide through California.

[LibertarianLiz]

$1 trillion

OMG! Stop the madness. No one wants those stupid cars. I haven't heard or read anywhere that the truckers want electric trucks.

[LibertarianLiz]

Green now means Scam

Hasn't that always been the case?

[Mouton]

Any government estimate is usually about a quarter of the final cost.

[Jonny7797]

which means it’s really 10 trillion

[Freedom4US]

America is a BIG country, as anyone who has driven across it can attest.

Outlawing Diesels and requiring rechargeable 18 wheelers will turn out to be among the more profoundly stupid and destructive government laws on record, and that’s saying something.

I woke up in bizzaro world. Full of clowns and monsters. Nobody lifting a finger to stop ‘em.

[qaz123]

So, an $1100 difference…..pittance

What about the 53’ intermodal containers that are the norm?

What about the increased in fueling, maintenance and crew?

What about the fact a few make that trip now, what happens when’s all of them do?

What happens some of those ports have to be expanded to deal with increased traffic?

[Clarancebeaks]

They better have some kind of revolutionary new super brake systems on those things, since they won’t have a exhaust brake on an electric motor to help hold them back on a steep grade. As heavy as that battery will have to be plus the weight of a typical load, I doubt a truck like that would even be possible to drive in the mountains with any kind of safety. Possibly local deliverys within a city where everything is flat with a warm year around climate and plenty of chargers. Thats about all they’d be good for.

[JimRed]

The only way to achieve zero emissions is to limit power generation to wind and solar, hydroelectric, and nuclear. At the moment, wind and solar just can’t cut it. Hydroelectric is limited to locations with large reservoirs or appropriate rivers. And the looney left hates nuclear!