A new study conducted by the German Institute for Applied Ecology has revealed that satisfaction with electric trucks in the logistics sector has reached an impressive 93%. The survey, involving 57 logistics companies that have operated electric heavy-duty vehicles for at least one year, shows that lower operating costs and improved driver comfort are accelerating adoption despite high upfront investments and infrastructure challenges. The vast majority of participants plan to make electric vehicles the industry standard by 2030. Reliability and exemptions from road tolls have emerged as some of the strongest financial drivers behind this transition.
The survey, carried out during the winter of 2025-2026, focused on companies operating Mercedes-Benz eActros and eEconic trucks produced by Daimler Truck. Collectively managing more than 300 electric trucks, the participating operators identified vehicle reliability and substantial cost savings as the primary reasons for their positive experiences. In particular, exemptions from expensive road tolls were highlighted as a key factor making electrification financially viable.
Performance data demonstrated that electric trucks are fully capable of handling demanding logistics operations. Vehicles included in the study covered an average of 432 kilometers per day, while approximately 40% of companies regularly exceeded 500 kilometers daily with their electric fleets. These usage figures span a broad range of vehicle categories, from 3.5-ton delivery vehicles to 18-ton long-haul trucks. In addition, nearly half of the participants stated that electric trucks are as reliable as, or even more reliable than, conventional diesel-powered vehicles.
The transition process still presents several challenges. Companies identified high initial investment costs and the complexity of upgrading electrical infrastructure at their facilities as the main obstacles. Supporting operations requires an average grid connection capacity of 1,115 kilowatts, while installed charging capacity currently averages 629 kilowatts. Due to limited space for large vehicles at public charging stations and a lack of price transparency, more than 95% of charging activities take place at company depots.
Despite these logistical bottlenecks, sentiment across the industry remains highly optimistic. Nearly all surveyed companies intend to gradually phase out diesel vehicles and transition to electric fleets by the end of the decade, signaling that the heavy-duty transport sector has reached a significant turning point in sustainable electrification.
Source: Solarbaba – In Turkish
