The Technology for Electric Trucks Is Ready – Now It’s About Cost and Scaling, Says Anders Grauers
Interview by Carla Westerheide, electrive.com, July 22, 2025
At the recent EVS38 conference, optimism about the electrification of heavy-duty transport was widespread — but so was the realism about the challenges that lie ahead. Anders Grauers, Associate Professor at Chalmers University of Technology and a renowned expert in electric vehicle systems and charging strategies, shared his pragmatic insights on the future of electric trucks and the path to zero-emission freight transport.
Technology Is Not the Bottleneck Anymore
Contrary to the common narrative that technological hurdles still dominate the electrification of heavy trucks, Grauers argues the core technologies for battery-electric trucks are already mature. “The answer is: there are actually no technical hurdles,” he stated confidently in the interview. “We’re not waiting for any new technology.” According to Grauers, the complex engineering challenges around battery dimensioning, vehicle range, and charging infrastructure have been tackled over years of research and trials.
Reflecting on the past two decades, Grauers noted, “Twenty years ago, everyone agreed there was no solution for heavy trucks. Everything was either impossible or too expensive. Today, we have two or three viable solutions for long-haul trucks: battery-electric trucks with stationary charging, hydrogen trucks, and possibly electric road systems. All of them will work if needed. It’s just a question of which is best.”
The Real Challenges: Cost, Scaling, and Organisational Issues
With the technological foundations laid, the hurdles are now largely economic and organisational. “The main challenge is cost — and that’s not really a technical hurdle. It’s about volume,” said Grauers. “Costs come down as volumes increase. One of my frustrations is that people often don’t realise how well things are going and how many fundamental problems we’ve solved.”
He emphasizes the need for patience in managing the transition: “Normally, transitions aren’t quick and a rapid transition can be painful. We need some patience. But there’s still a lot we can do to speed it up: through informing people, demonstrating what’s possible, and focused policy that accelerates adoption.”
Battery Size, Weight, and Total Cost of Ownership
A nuanced point Grauers made concerns battery size and weight in commercial vehicles, which differ substantially from passenger cars. “For commercial vehicles, batteries aren’t a cost problem so much as a weight problem,” he explained. “If it was only about cost, today’s battery prices would allow for full-day driving range, but the issue is weight, which affects payload capacity.”
He also challenges the assumption that minimizing battery size will always save money. “A smaller battery has a shorter lifespan. In principle, upsizing the battery slightly saves money because it lasts longer. The extra 20–25% margin is almost free if you don’t have a weight issue. This is part of managing the total cost of ownership.”
Charging Infrastructure and Costs Remain Critical
Charging strategies that maintain productivity for truck operators are vital. Grauers outlined two scenarios: for many trucks operating daily within about 300 kilometers, stationary charging solves the problem with properly sized batteries. However, long-haul trucks are more challenging as they require up to 40–50% of their energy replenished on public chargers daily.
“The cost of public charging for long-haul trucks needs to be about half of today’s prices — around 25 euro cents per kilowatt-hour — to be viable,” Grauers noted. “If charging remains cheaper than that, battery-electric trucks will dominate. If not, hydrogen becomes a cost-effective alternative.”
He admitted that reaching these cost targets depends heavily on high utilization rates and market competition: “When energy utilization of chargers reaches about 20%, we’ll probably hit these price points. Competition will be fierce, which helps bring costs down.”
However, charge point operators currently face a difficult financial challenge during this transitional phase, as infrastructure investments require significant upfront capital with uncertain initial returns.
The Role of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks
While Grauers views hydrogen trucks as viable in niche applications — particularly where ultra-fast refueling or weight considerations are paramount — he predicts battery-electric trucks will dominate the bulk of Europe’s fleet. “Hydrogen is roughly on par with diesel today in terms of cost, which is promising. But I believe battery-electric will beat hydrogen for most segments, except where charging isn’t fast enough or payload weight is critical.”
Despite this, many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue investing in hydrogen technology given the tight cost margins and uncertainties about future infrastructure costs and capabilities.
Grid Integration and Infrastructure Build-Out
Addressing concerns around the ability of electric grids to support the charging demands of heavy trucks, Grauers dismissed the notion that the grid cannot handle it. “That’s like saying you can’t build new houses because there are no roads. Of course, you build the roads — it’s infrastructure, and its cost will be paid for. The timing takes time, but the technology and capacity to build large charging sites exist.”
He explained that large-scale charging stations are more economically efficient than many small stations: “It’s easier and cheaper to build one 50-megawatt site than fifty 1-megawatt sites. Utilities may be hesitant because it’s new, but fundamentally, there’s no problem building these.”
Looking Ahead: A Pragmatic, Optimistic Future
Grauers’ perspective is both optimistic and realistic. The technological groundwork is largely solved, but the true challenge lies in scaling solutions, reducing costs, and creating the supporting policy and market conditions. His call is for stakeholders to focus on accelerating infrastructure rollout, promoting smart charging strategies, and nurturing competitive markets for public charging.
With these elements in place, the electrification of heavy-duty trucks can proceed faster and more smoothly than many assume, heralding a significant step toward a fossil-free freight future.
About Anders Grauers
Anders Grauers is an Associate Professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, specializing in electric vehicle systems and charging strategies. His work focuses on heavy-duty transport electrification, blending academic research with industry collaboration to advance sustainable freight solutions. He is affiliated with the Swedish Electromobility Centre and contributes expertise on battery dimensioning, electric road systems, and energy efficiency.
About Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers is a leading technical university known for its applied research and strong industry partnerships, committed to driving a fossil-free society through innovation in energy systems, materials, transport electrification, and digital technologies.
For more details, visit Chalmers University of Technology at www.chalmers.se and stay tuned for further coverage on electromobility developments at electrive.com.
