OEM Strategies for Electric Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Platforms

Dedicated Electric Platforms Set to Ensure Transformational Growth of the NA and European M&HD Truck Market by 2030

OEMs in the electric truck space are currently pursuing two types of platforms: one based on the internal combustion engine (ICE) platform and the other on a dedicated electric platform. Established OEMs are primarily pursuing the former, while most new-age pure-play EV start-ups prefer the latter; however, established OEMs are also simultaneously working on dedicated electric platforms which will be out on roads only after 2025.

Battery placement and electric motor architecture are the most important design elements in an electric truck platform. Many models use the battery-on-the-side and the battery-in-the-middle designs in existing ICE platforms; however, the battery-on-the-bottom design - suitable for a skateboard platform - will come into use after 2025. As far as motor architecture is concerned, most of the models use central drive motors, while some use eAxles: eCarrier and eCrown. The eAxle: Wheel Hub (two motors each at the rear wheels), an advanced architecture, will come into use in another 2 to 3 years.

The penetration rate of electric trucks in both North America and Europe is expected to be 45.3% by 2030, with 70% of that volume set to use eAxles, while the remaining 30% use centrally driven motors. All the leading OEM groups - Daimler, Volvo, Traton, and Paccar - are anticipating 25%-35% of their new truck sales to be electric by 2030.

KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED

• What are the major truck OEMs doing in the electrification space?
• Which are the up and coming new-age pure-play electric truck companies?
• What are the various battery placement and electric drivetrain architectures?
• What is the penetration of electric trucks in overall sales in the future?
• What will be the penetration rate of electric-platform-based trucks in the overall OEM sales by 2030?