Image via orangeev.com
Trucking industry leaders continue to make environmentally sustainable strides, and one organization recently integrated dozens of EV vehicles into its operation.
Lazer Spot, a yard management outfit based in Georgia, recently negotiated a two-year agreement to buy upwards of 25 electric yard spotters from Orange EV. The yard management firm anticipates delivery of the electric vehicles by year’s end, with deployment to proceed within 12 months.
“Orange EV is clearly the industry leader for electric yard truck innovations. They invented and manufactured the first one. Our past successful experience with them allows Lazer Spot to stay ahead and ensure we’re utilizing proven technology and receiving the best-performing and most reliable electric yard trucks available today,” Lazer Spot CEO Adam Newsome reportedly stated.
Although trucking industry professionals weigh the expectation of increasingly strict emissions regulations against profitability, Laser Spot’s data and studies indicated EV yard spotters delivered on both fronts. Over a six-year period, the company’s customers are expected to enjoy a 75-percent reduction in downtime compared to diesel engine counterparts. The firm also anticipates reducing maintenance costs by as much as 80 percent and 90-percent energy savings compared to diesel-run vehicles.
“Orange EV is proud to provide Lazer Spot with clean solutions that are good for the bottom line,” Orange EV CEO Wayne Mathisen reportedly stated. “While other EV trucks are early-stage, Orange EV has a proven track record, delivering trucks that are both environmentally and economically sustainable, with demonstrated lower total cost of ownership.”
Coupling reduced costs with increased reliability make pivoting to EV yard spotters a savvy business decision. The move also helps position freight hauling organizations ahead of the reduced emissions curve. While others may need to make expensive retrofitting to keep tailpipe exhaust within changing federal and state guidelines, EV yard spotters allow freight carriers and logistics hubs to boast cleaner operations. Thought leaders at Orange EV saw the shifting regulatory landscape and launched their first all-electric terminal truck back in 2014.
The spotters bear a striking resemblance to yard trucks produced during the last half-century on the exterior. Under the hood, the electric systems are driven by powerful lithium-ion batteries capable of producing upwards of 160 kilowatt-hours. Some models have ranges of up to 100 miles without recharging. This facet eliminates any concern about completing full shifts at warehouses and logistics centers.
The cost of charging electric yard vehicles runs upwards of $11 compared to diesel at $20 to $70 per day. The freight industry reportedly adds between 3,000 to 5,000 of these vehicles annually, and companies that purchase them may be able to tap into federal and state incentives designed to cost-effectively transition the sector off fossil fuels.
Sources: freightwaves.com, ttnews.com
Sure great for the environment. What about those batteries that will have to be replaced.
…. Don’t say that….