Eliminating electrification anxiety

Tesla has announced an electric truck

This week saw another milestone in the continuing adoption of alternate energy transitions. An electric tractor trailer, or semi, with a driving range of 800 kilometres and a promise of 20 per cent operational savings over a diesel truck, was announced by Tesla. The vehicle will be production ready by 2019 and if the production estimates can be relied on, and Loblaws (Superstore) have pre-ordered 25 with Walmart Canada preordering 10 sight unseen.

This is an important shift to non-carbon transit, but not the first steps. Currently there are at least eight car manufacturers offering fully electric vehicles (EV) in the Canadian market: Nissan – Leaf; Ford – Focus; BMW – i3; Chevrolet – Bolt; Hyundai – Ioniq; KiaSoul; Volkswagen –eGolf; and the Tesla – models S, 3, X, R.

A collective consciousness has been awakened to embrace new methods of transportation. This change is driven by economics, environmental concerns and a firstmover progress drive.

Infrastructure remains a significant barrier to widespread EV adoption (vehicle cost remains another). New Brunswick Power and Emera have been proactive in developing a level-three fastcharging network across their provinces. Earlier this week I tested a level-three charging station in Moncton and the output was very impressive.

There is a series of lower amperage chargers across P.E.I., but the capacity is woefully lacking. Sun County, a private charging station pioneer, has installed a number of chargers across the province. Summerside has been aggressive in encouraging adoption, supporting 30 public stations in their city. Charlottetown has no strategically located public stations, by contrast. All Island charging stations are level one or two lowamperage, slow-charging stations.

Bonshaw resident Harry Smith owns three EVs and has never experienced range anxiety driving as far as Los Angeles and Florida numerous times in his EVs.

Industry impacts will also advance faster than the ability to accommodate change. Auto companies like Tesla allow for online custom configuration, real-time manufacture and delivery of a personalized auto in six weeks. The autos operate like an iPod, with no moving parts there is very little to breakdown and no need for traditional service like oil changes. This will disrupt traditional business models and employment possibilities.

Traditional industries need to adapt to autonomous driving delivery trucks, declining automobile maintenance and ecommerce sales. Disruption will accelerate rapidly from this point, few will be ready. Governments can support this change by providing infrastructure and transferring tax credits from fossil fuels to alternate and renewable fuel supplies.

The future is absolutely upon us. The pace of electrification of auto-transport will be faster than the pace and change of the Internet. In a decade, our roads, career paths and highway safety will be dramatically different. Is your business, and your government, keeping pace with this change; how are you positioning to get ahead of this curve?