The Dawn of the Electric HGV

September marks a very exciting month for the haulage industry. In years to come, September 2017 will be known as the dawn of the electric HGV. Ok, maybe that's going a bit far, but it will certainly be remembered as the time the first set of fully electric HGVs were revealed to the world. Yes, it's time for Tesla to unveil their much awaited electric HGV, along with a competing model from industry leader Cummins, who has already pulled away the curtain to show us what's underneath. Electric HGVs are something we have been waiting a long time for, and we can't wait to see how they stack up compared to our current diesel and petrol models.

The Tesla

It's been a long wait for Tesla to announce their electric HGV. With teaser campaigns and drip fed detail, we're finally in September - the month CEO Elon Musk has promised to unveil the machine in all its glory. So, before we get the grand reveal, here's a rundown of what we know so far:

• The initial model will have a range of 200-300 miles per charge
• Later models will range up to 1000 miles per charge
• They will be produced in the Fremont manufacturing facility in California
• Initial models will only feature a day cab, with no sleeper compartments. Again, these will be available in later models
• The design is very rounded and curvy compared to most HGVs of its size, presumably to boost aerodynamics and increase efficiency
• The electric version will match traditional diesel models for torque and range.

Elon Musk revealed the first images of the all-electric Tesla earlier this year, with the darkened image showing a glowing EV lorry with little more than its LED lights piercing the darkness. This was the very first confirmation from Musk that he had set his sights on the commercial market, bringing a lot of excitement from those in the haulage industry.

The AEOS

Not to be outdone, Cummins has also risen to the electric HGV challenge. On the 29th of August, they revealed their own heavy duty, fully electric HGV cab. It weighs in at 18,000 lbs and can haul a 22-tonne trailer with no problems whatsoever. It has been affectionately named AEOS by its creators, in honour of one of the 4 winged horses that fly the Greek god Helios across the skies in Greek mythology. The downside to the AOES is its shorter mileage range - which clocks in at 100 miles. But Cummins has said that the AEOS is primarily aimed at urban delivery and short haul transport and not long journeys, which makes 100 miles plenty. The charge time for a full cycle is 1 hour, with the promise that this will be down to 20 minutes by 2020 to ensure delivery times aren't affected.

So, what do you think? The specs for both of these vehicles are quite impressive, with much more promise for the haulage industry than previous suggestions. But the question still remains - are electric HGVs capable of performing the rigorous long distance journeys our traditional vehicles are currently running? At HGV Training Prices, we promise to keep an eye on all announcements and bring you the latest news on Tesla's electric HGVs as they become available. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss electric HGVs with us, get in touch with us today.