Nissan U.S. has started using electric trucks to transport new vehicles to dealerships

In line with its goal of being carbon neutral across all its operations by 2050, Nissan USA has started using electric trucks to transport its new vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles to a network of dealers in the Los Angeles area.

There are currently two electric trucks in the fleet, but Nissan said that it will add more later on. 

The two Class 8 electric trucks used by the Japanese brand were made in partnership with Nikola and Kenworth.

The project is also being developed by the transport company Avant-Garde Auto Logistics LLC and transportation partner Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which have installed charging stations for these electric trucks in the port area.

The charging stations at the port area will help keep the trucks charged while waiting for shipments, as the electric vehicle range is still limited compared to their internal combustion counterparts.

More information about the trucks' range. However, given that their routes transport vehicles to dealerships in the area, it could be a reasonable amount. 

In the Philippine context

Having electric trucks in the Philippine context could work out.

Republic Act 11697 or the "Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act" includes a timeline for commercial, public transport and government fleets to transition to full electric vehicles (EV).

However, the infrastructure for them still needs to develop. 

Foton Philippines has already brought an electric truck into the local market. However, its pricing is still a bit expensive compared to the diesel version and it still needs to come with a charger included in its sale price.

For regular drivers, EVs are slowly becoming popular in the country, with more and more automakers bringing these kinds of cars to interest consumers. Even Nissan has brought in its EV form of the Nissan LEAF.

Executive Order No. 12, signed by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., has also made EVs cheaper in the Philippines by removing import taxes. 

So, a future with electric trucking is possible for the Philippines, but the energy infrastructure needs to catch up first.