What is it really like to drive an electric truck?

With their low noise and zero exhaust emissions, electric trucks are making a significant contribution to creating more sustainable and livable communities. But what about the drivers? What difference does a cleaner and quieter vehicle make to their daily work?

We asked four drivers from four different countries about their experiences driving electric. While all four admit to having been apprehensive at first, none of them ever want to go back to diesel. So, what made them change their minds?    

“Once you experience an electric truck, there’s no going back!”

“Driving an electric truck is completely different: it is quiet, comfortable, and smooth. I finish the day less fatigued, and driving is much more relaxing compared to the diesel vehicles I used before.

 “At first, charging and range worried me, but now I know the truck well. I monitor its range on the dashboard, and I can schedule my day without any problems, so charging fits naturally into my routine. After two years, I feel completely comfortable and confident driving the truck.

“When other drivers see it, they are surprised and curious; some are even envious, as there are still very few vehicles of this type circulating in Italy.

“I recommend trying an electric truck before making a final judgment: once you experience it, there’s no going back! It’s an experience that changes your perspective on driving and your workday.”

“Customers love that it’s quiet and doesn’t give off the normal diesel truck smell”

“It’s noticeably quiet, free of the typical diesel smell and the ride itself is comfortable, which makes for a nice overall driving environment and experience. Customers love that it’s quiet too and doesn’t give off the normal diesel truck smell. They also like that it’s good for the environment.

“At first, I was concerned about charging and range because we weren’t sure how far we could go on a full charge. Over time, we’ve learned how to manage it effectively. Now we know how far we can go before needing to charge, and plan accordingly to ensure we have enough battery to reach our destination and return without issues.

“We have chargers at both of our yards – one yard has fourteen 350kw dispensers and the other has thirty 350kw dispensers. Overall, charging integrates smoothly into my daily routine and is based on my current location and upcoming dispatches. With opportunity charging, we can work about 12-14 hours per day and can drive between 200-300 miles (320-480 km).”

“It’s a beautiful, enjoyable truck”

“The electric trucks can work up to 12 hours. The driving experience is wonderful. Acceleration is great and electric means less noise.
 

 “Initially I was worried about range for long trips, which can be 360-380 km, fully loaded to about 14 tonnes. Mostly I can recharge at QSALT’s depot but for longer trips, recharging is needed along the way and I can use a charging station.
 

 “People are often interested when they see the truck parked. They ask questions about how far it can drive. Overall, it’s a beautiful, enjoyable truck.”

“I can talk to the crew and we don’t have to shout”

“We start early in the morning every day. Our routes are short, with many stops – about 100 stops during the day. But this is perfect for an electric truck. There is no need to recharge during the day. I only charge it once a day when I finish the job, and only with an AC charger.
 

 “I like how quiet the truck is. I can talk to the crew and we don’t have to shout at each other. Also, the absence of vibrations keeps me more relaxed. I think that people appreciate the low noise level when we empty their bins before sunrise.
 

 “I started driving the very first electric refuse truck in the whole of Czechia. Of course, I was worried at first. We got simulation calculations before we started, but I was still a little bit concerned. When we started operations, I found that the calculations matched real-life data.
 

 “For my job there is almost no change in switching to electric. I don’t have to go and refill the tank, instead I just plug in the charger.”