China’s new electric trolleys draw power from overhead wires or a battery

The UK, Germany and Sweden are already testing whether overhead cables are the best option for clean trucks

for Chris Chilton

4 hours ago

Tesla delivered its first battery-powered semi-trucks just as the sun was setting in 2022, but while we might be seeing the sun rise on a new generation of electric trucks, not everyone thinks Tesla’s way is the way correct

Instead of electrifying heavy commercial vehicles the way we electrify cars, but with huge, heavy and expensive batteries to handle the payload, other companies are putting their money behind the development of overhead line-powered trucks .

Yes, laying thousands of miles of ugly power cables across a country’s roads using technology that looks eerily familiar to the stuff used on city streetcars over 100 years ago seems less futuristic than Tesla’s solution , but the science makes sense. Taking power from the overhead wires means the truck can get away with a smaller battery, and a smaller battery means a cheaper, lighter truck. Also, not having to stop and load mid-route could lead to shorter delivery times.

Related: Electric truck stops by 2035 will need as much juice as a small town, claims report

Current from the cables can power the truck and charge the battery, which can then be used in areas that don’t have overhead lines. And while the idea requires a significant investment to install the cables, a UK study suggested the cost could be recouped in 15 years. It could also provide fewer headaches than trying to design hundreds of truck stops across a country capable of delivering massive amounts of electricity to dozens of hungry vehicles in the same place at the same time.

The electric truck seen here in the video, which we admit doesn’t look as cool as a Tesla Semi, appears to have been built by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co. But he wasn’t alone, because in the same week another company in the CRRC group revealed another truck powered by overhead cables, according to The Register.

The green truck was shown on China’s first electrified highway, a stretch of road in the country’s Hunan province created for demonstration and testing purposes, but it’s almost certain that the idea will be expanded to real roads. Sweden, Germany and the US have already tested, or are in the process of establishing, tests to assess the feasibility of tram-style trucks.

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Tesla delivered its first battery-powered Semi trucks just as the sun was setting on 2022, but while we might be seeing the sun coming up on a new generation of electric trucks, not everyone believes Tesla’s way is the right way."
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Instead of electrifying heavy commercial vehicles in the same way we have electrified cars, but with enormous heavy and expensive batteries to cope with the payload, other companies are putting their money behind the development of trucks powered by overhead lines."
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Yeah, installing thousands of miles’ worth of ugly power cables over a country’s roads using technology that looks unnervingly familiar to the stuff used on city trams over 100 years ago seems less futuristic than Tesla’s solution, but there’s sense in the science. Pulling in energy from overhead cables means the truck can get away with a smaller battery, and a smaller battery means a cheaper, lighter truck. Plus, not having to stop and charge mid-route could lead to shorter delivery times."
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Related: Electric Truck Stops In 2035 Will Need As Much Juice As A Small Town, Report Claims"
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Current from the cables can power the truck and charge the battery, which can then be used in areas that don't have overhead lines.  And while the idea requires a significant investment to install the cables, a UK study suggested the cost could be recouped in 15 years.  It could also provide fewer headaches than trying to design hundreds of truck stops across a country capable of delivering massive amounts of electricity to dozens of hungry vehicles in the same place at the same time."
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The electric truck seen here in the video, which we admit doesn't look as cool as a Tesla Semi, appears to have been built by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co.  But he wasn't alone, because in the same week another company in the CRRC group revealed another truck powered by overhead cables, according to The Register."
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The green truck was shown on China's first electrified highway, a stretch of road in the country's Hunan province created for demonstration and testing purposes, but it's almost certain that the idea will be expanded to real roads.  Sweden, Germany and the US have already tested, or are in the process of establishing, tests to assess the feasibility of tram-style trucks."
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