More than 40% of European fleet decision-makers now believe battery-electric heavy trucks are more economical to run than conventional diesel models based on total cost of ownership.
The findings come from a commercial transport survey commissioned by Daimler Truck, questioning 197 fleet leaders across the UK, Germany, and France. A further 16% of respondents viewed electric and diesel trucks as financially comparable, leaving only around a quarter who maintain that diesel remains cheaper.
Confidence in power pricing is also solidifying: approximately two-thirds of surveyed operators regard commercial electricity costs as at least as predictable as diesel fuel. Nearly a quarter of the businesses taking part in the study already have battery-electric trucks operating on active duty cycles.
However, the primary barrier to broader adoption remains charging access rather than vehicle capability. A significant 61% of fleet leaders stated that uncertainty around public and semi-public charging infrastructure puts electric trucks at a distinct disadvantage. For haulage operators and logistics giants like Dachser, scaling heavy zero-emission transport now hinges on expanding reliable depot, en-route, and shared megawatt charging infrastructure.
The EV Cafe Crew's Take:
John:
Framed the Daimler Truck survey results (40% finding electric HGVs cheaper on TCO, 16% comparable, and only 25% backing diesel).
Called on Sam to share the reality from the ZEHID trials, and asked Sara about the raw, practical challenges of charging an electric truck on UK roads during the EV Rally.
Brought the conversation back to light commercial vans, asking Paul about the ongoing struggle of physically fitting larger commercial vehicles into charging bays.
Sam:
Described it as a "good news, bad news" story: great that TCO modelling is proving positive, but bad because mainland Europe (particularly Norway) is still outpacing the UK.
Warned that while the UK’s ZEHID demonstrator was an amazing catalyst, the industry cannot afford to stall, urging government and industry not to get despondent but to keep building momentum.
Sara:
Provided firsthand driver feedback from driving an electric truck on the EV Rally.
Highlighted that consistent charging power matters far more than peak headline speed, when chargers load-share and power drops unexpectedly, onward journey planning and ferry connections are wrecked.
Noted the human side: professional HGV drivers often prefer depot environments over crowded public service stations where they have to pay £5 for a cup of tea instead of £1 in a drivers' mess.
Paul:
Pointed out that standard charging hubs are simply not designed for vans, let alone trucks.
Praised collaborative shared depot charging models he recently visited, such as Welch’s Transport (working with Allstar and Openreach) and FSCW in South Wales running 20 electric trucks depot-to-depot.
Strongly attacked planning red tape: pointing out that it is absurd when a physical depot charger build takes 9 to 12 months, but the planning permission drags on for 3 to 4 years.