There are many benefits to electric trucks. If trucking revenues are sunk into the fluctuating price of diesel, there is a chance that trucking companies and drivers could take home more of the profits.

Electric trucks should also be much lower maintenance than diesel, with less moving parts in the engine. In concrete terms, this means more saved money and less time doing oil changes or repairs. And that means more time on the road.

Of course, electric vehicles are also much better for the environment with zero carbon emissions, and they’re quieter too.

These advantages come with both costs and challenges.

According to a new study by the Clean Freight Coalition, it would take approximately $1 trillion to fully upgrade the trucking industry to electric vehicles. Costs would be required for charging infrastructure, in addition to upgrades to existing US utility companies to handle the new influx of heavy-duty commercial vehicles requiring electric charging.

The charging infrastructure must be available on major highways and popular routes, so drivers don’t have to go far out of their way to recharge.

Government incentives and subsidies would have to be a part of this initiative. Fortunately, the environmental benefits apply to everyone, so there is a reason for public buy-in. Nonetheless, the political aspects of government budgeting do provide a significant hurdle for full electrification, particularly with the lobbying on both sides of the issue.

Regulations must also be put into place to standardize charging and electrification, set timelines, and mandate safety standards.

For drivers and trucking companies, they must receive training on any changes, especially in operation and maintenance, in handling a new fleet of trucks.

An electric future is inevitable, but how quickly these issues and the very significant price tag will be handled is still up for debate.