How to beat diverse weather conditions with electric freight

Extreme and shifting temperatures can be challenging for electric fleets. With the right expertise and technical capabilities in place, weather conditions become not only a seamless part of operations but also an opportunity for more efficient road freight.

The effect of temperature on battery performance is a topic constantly discussed when it comes to electric vehicles, with news articles fueling fears around range and weather as they report on passenger cars’ charging adventures in extreme temperatures. Does heavy-duty transportation face the same challenge? If so, what is needed for electric operations to beat weather conditions and meet delivery goals?

Battery-electric trucks can indeed be affected by different factors, such as temperature, weight, topography and road conditions. Managing them comes with various complexity levels and requires expertise in operating electric fleets from multiple manufacturers. You also need the right technology to precisely assess external factors and how they could affect specific vehicles based on their technical specifications and current state.

With a track record of operating electric freight since 2020, Einride has extensive experience with electric fleets in temperatures ranging from -37°C (-35°F) to 40°C (105°F) across eight markets. On-going operations have yielded valuable insights and data, which are continuously leveraged to optimize current transport networks and strategically plan the deployment of additional ones.

In this article, you will understand how weather conditions impact battery and vehicle performance and gain insight into how to address challenges through optimized operations, proactive maintenance and close partnerships for ensuring on-time deliveries.

Operating in extreme cold

It’s not just electric vehicles that are affected by lower temperatures. In fact, all vehicles lose efficiency in cold weather. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas-powered passenger cars’ fuel economy decreases by about 15% at -7°C (20°F), while the equivalent loss for an electric car could be up to 40% at the same temperature.

With electric vehicles, chemical and physical reactions in the battery occur more slowly in the cold, reducing the battery power. This means energy consumption increases, leading to the reduced range and extended charging times – and fueling what’s become known as ‘range anxiety’. Low temperatures also affect the battery's longevity.

With its Swedish heritage and a substantial customer base in the Nordics, Einride has been navigating cold temperatures from the start. This winter, the Oslo region in Norway experienced an unusually long period of extreme winter conditions, with -25°C (-13°F), snow, and icy roads, disrupting traffic and making headlines. Einride experienced these conditions firsthand with its operations with PostNord in the region, where six electric trucks operate around the clock. Despite the effects of lower temperatures, disruptions in operations were kept at a minimum, thanks to strategic measures. On top of that, operations around the clock ensured that the trucks were either on the road or charging, preventing energy loss from idling in the cold while maximizing truck utilization.

Operating in extreme heat

The range of battery-electric trucks is also affected by very high temperatures, however not to the same extent as in extreme cold. High temperatures accelerate the ions in batteries, impacting their long-term health. To manage this, the battery thermal management system consumes energy to cool the battery. Another factor impacting the state of charge is the usage of air conditioning, especially in heavy traffic conditions in high heat. When temperatures reach 35°C (95°F) and the air conditioning is going at full speed, the driving range of electric vehicles can decrease by up to 17%. Chargers are also affected by high temperatures, with their efficiency being slightly reduced during periods of temperatures above 27°C (80°F), which could lead to battery degradation when charging in these conditions.

By the end of 2024, Einride, in partnership with DP World, will operate a fleet of electric trucks for inter-terminal container flows at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where summer temperatures can reach 50°C (120°F). So, when developing the operational plan for DP World, calculations were done based on a worst-case scenario with the highest possible energy consumption to ensure readiness for the summer peaks while performing more efficiently during cooler months.

“The United Arab Emirates is a new market for us, and with temperatures around 50°C, plus the added heat absorption from asphalt, we will be operating in extremely warm conditions for part of the year. This presents a new challenge, but by collaborating with our selected suppliers – who have already tested these vehicles in such harsh conditions – and by leveraging our experience from other warm regions, such as the southern United States, we can adequately prepare for these high temperatures ahead of the deployment,” says Iman Zaghw, VP Region Middle East.

Using its four-year experience of insights operating fully-electric heavy-duty vehicles supported by an AI-based digital freight platform, Einride will ensure efficient operation in these extreme conditions. By analyzing historical data and predicting conditions in Dubai throughout the year, Einride has implemented several measures in collaboration with partners. For example, the trucks’ cooling system has been modified to suit the local climate, and the chargers will be equipped with shading and additional cooling to enhance energy efficiency.

With operations running 24/7 and covering relatively short distances, there will be no additional downtime for charging during shifts. Instead, trucks will be topped up during driver breaks and shift changes.

Operating in diverse conditions

Operating electric fleets across large countries such as the United States requires navigating diverse conditions ranging from extreme cold to intense heat and from humid coastal areas to arid deserts. Einride currently operates fleets across eight states, from California’s west coast to New Jersey on the east coast and from Georgia in the south to Washington in the north. This requires adaptive strategies for planning, deploying and managing operations.

Across several states in the US, heat waves and summer peaks pose a risk of charging infrastructure halting electric operations due to high temperatures reaching up to 40°C (105°F). Einride has encountered these high temperatures in Louisville, Kentucky, and Crandall and Savannah, Georgia, where it has operations with GE Appliances and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. Additionally, the Einride Smartcharger Station in Lynwood, California, also experiences extreme heat from time to time. However, with Einride’s experience and preparation for these warm events, the operations team can adjust plans accordingly to ensure trucks remain in full operation with no downtime.

Last winter in Chicago, Illinois, temperatures remained between -34°C (-30°F) and -37°C (-35°F) for weeks, causing technical issues for electric vehicles in general. Einride’s operations with Maersk witnessed chargers failing and the malfunction of "cold switches", preventing pre-heating of the battery cells. But the Einride team was able to maintain vehicle uptime despite these challenges by implementing measures proactively such as preparing the vehicles with proper winter maintenance and training the drivers.

Leveraging expertise and data to navigate the weather factor

Operating an electric fleet requires a new approach, where experience and expertise are key as different factors need to be taken into consideration. Einride is solving this through its digital freight platform that features an energy consumption model designed to calculate the energy usage of trucks during operations.

The model draws on data from truck manufacturers and historical data from Einride’s operations and considers multiple factors such as cargo weight, temperature, topography and road conditions, with temperature being identified as the second most significant factor impacting energy consumption. By utilizing machine learning, the model enables Einride to perform route testing prior to deployment, creating an environment that closely mirrors reality – resulting in highly accurate and efficient operational plans. The model is continuously refined and updated based on new data and observations to enhance its accuracy.

Planning ahead of deployment is crucial for smooth operations, but managing and operating the fleet in diverse weather conditions is equally, if not more important. Proactive management and thorough preparation are key to ensuring reliable performance once the operation goes live. There are several measures to be taken to manage electric fleets in extreme and shifting temperatures, including;

• Adapting route planning based on data
• Optimizing charging schedules and implementing charging restrictions
• Conducting operational driver training tailored to specific weather conditions
• Providing training material for different seasons
• Preparing the vehicles ahead of each season
• Collaborating closely with partners to develop solutions for managing various conditions

To further plan and monitor operations in real-time, digital intelligence is being leveraged through our freight platform, which enables the monitoring of the truck’s state of charge, expected charging time, estimated time of arrival, and other vital metrics – all essential to effectively managing electric vehicles, regardless of weather conditions.

Considering deploying electric fleets but are unsure how to beat weather conditions? Partner with Einride as your transformation partner and leverage our unique expertise and experience from operating some of the largest fleets of heavy-duty electric vehicles in North America and Europe. With Einride, shippers gain access to a comprehensive turnkey solution that includes vehicles, charging infrastructure, drivers, operational resources, and digital intelligence, ensuring continuous operations in all weather, year-round.

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