Daimler Truck survey asks if BE or diesel trucks have better TCO

Achim Puchert (right), CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Stefan Hohm, CDO at Dachser (Photo: Daimler Truck)

A survey completed by Daimler Truck has found that more than 40% of respondents consider electric trucks to be a more cost-effective solution than diesel models with regards to total cost of ownership (TCO).

The survey also showed that 16% of respondents thought that diesel and electric powertrains are equal in TCO, while about 25% saw a cost advantage for diesel trucks.

The survey also found that further market ramp-up of electric trucks will depend on the expansion of charging infrastructure.

Daimler reported that 25% of respondents were already operating electric trucks.

This figure is far greater than the actual penetration of electric trucks in Europe, which currently stands at about 2% of all heavy-duty truck registrations.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks, a division of Daimler Truck, holds about 38% of the heavy- and medium-duty electric truck market in the region.

The survey involved around 200 fleet ‘decision makers’ in Germany, France and the UK, with a focus on different drive technologies.

Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks. said: “Our customers are already operating battery-electric trucks economically in many applications today, including long-haul transport.

“To further accelerate the transformation, we must strengthen the entire ecosystem, especially by expanding charging infrastructure. This is how we create the conditions for turning individual success stories into a new transport standard.”