The trucking industry appears to be transitioning toward electronic autonomous trucks with California mandating fully electric drayage trucks at its ports by 2035, CNBC reported on Thursday. US-based e-bike and e-scooter rental company Lime is going beyond state mandates by inking an agreement with California-based logistics firm Hight Logistics for more extensive applications of e-trucks in its supply chains.

Europe is hopping on trend: Surging demand for sustainable transport in Europe saw Sweden-based electric autonomous trucking outfit Einride collaborate with major brands, while Denmark-based logistics giant DFDS revealed in March that it would order 100 e-trucks from Volvo up until 2025, in a bid to meet growing demand from clients for sustainable transport, the outlet said.

But there are roadblocks: Long distance journeys are still carried out by diesel-powered trucks, with e-trucks costing about double the price of traditional trucks, CNBC writes. Buyers are also concerned about e-trucks’ range and the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure. Ultimately, the pace at which clients uptake e-trucks is determined by cargo owners, with healthy demand necessary “so that the innovation and investment gets there,” VP for sustainability at Lime, Andrew Savage, said. Regulation could also help boost the transition, Savage added.

In our neck of the woods, UAE is leading the e-trucking drive: The Emirates inked an agreement with Einride to deploy 1k all-electric heavy-duty trucks and 100 self-driving vehicles in February 2024, as part of a network — dubbed the Falcon Energy Project — which also includes extensive charging infrastructure. Meanwhile, Dubai is angling to have 25% of all of its road trips fully automated by 2030, as part of a government-led initiative that is one of the most ambitious in the world.

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