Decarbonising your road transport costs

Introduction

SEAI’s second annual Decarbonising Transport Conference and Exhibition was held at Johnstown House in County Meath in October. There were talks from policy makers and exemplars from both business and public sectors, while outside, crowds gathered to see electric vehicles from the lightest eBikes to commercial heavy-duty vehicles running on 100% battery power of up to 44 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW). BioGas and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuelled vehicles were also on display.

How much less do zero emission Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV’s) cost to run?

Kilsaran concrete drove one of their battery electric concrete mixers to the outside display, presenting on the 70% cost and CO₂ savings in kWh/Km and kWh per m3 of concrete delivered. Whilst every HDV operation is different, FTA Ireland’s recent Cost of Distribution FTA Ireland’s recent Cost of Distribution (COD) survey showed an average truck in Ireland emits 79ⁱ t CO₂ per annum.

Electrifying a HDV has it challenges, but range is not one of them, as professional HDV drivers must take a 40-minute break every 4 hours, with rules enforced by An Garda Siochana. 

How will my fleet afford to buy a battery electric truck (or bus?)

Olga Houlihan from TII explained the Zero-Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle purchase grant scheme that funds up to 60% of the cost difference and the number of grants drawn down to date.  Some large industry network (LIEN) customers are backing their transport suppliers with longer contracts to allow them to finance new battery electric trucks and chargers - which is cheaper to operate. 

ATC Logistics displayed their 44tonne battery electric artic and VW ID Buzz van, evidence of their €22m commitment to a zero emission Heavy Duty Vehicle fleet by 2030.

How do they charge these big battery electric trucks and buses?

Bus Eireann’s Joe Scott explained how they upgraded their Limerick depot to charge and operate a fleet of 34 Electric double deck buses in a tight city depot of 140 buses; whilst keeping it operating 24/7 during the install of new grid connections and 70 chargers. Each bus has a 404kWh battery and 34 are already on the road in Limerick 

Aoife O’Grady, head of ZEVI, added that ‘high speed en route chargers’ are currently being built with plans for more all over the country and detailed further plans for the various regions and funding to 2030.

Who will drive demand for zero emission heavy duty vehicles

John Knox from the Department of Transport presented on the Clean Vehicle Directive’s minimum purchasing requirements on public sector fleets. Data has been collected for vehicles and transport services since 2^nd August 2021; demonstrating how the public sector is leading by example and creating demand for clean vehicles from the motor industry.  

Health and wellbeing

Martina Mullen, Operational Lead at gave real life examples of the Smarter Travel presentation made earlier in the day by the National Transport Authority’s Siobhan Hamilton, with an engaging talk on how students and staff have embraced active travel with bikes and walking. 

The number one thing we can do to reduce transport emissions is to walk or cycle where possible or use public transport. The most energy efficient journey is the one we do not make in the car and it’s great for your health and overall wellbeing. 

Fine print

50+ tonnes of CO2 reduced calculation based on SEAI's Conversion Factors.

• HDV emitting 79 tonnes of CO2 i.e. roughly 30,000 Litres of diesel per year. 1 Litre = 10.093kWh. 
• Moving to battery electric will conservatively reduce energy use by 60% (see Kilsaran presentation 70%)
• 302,790kWh x 60% = 181,674kWh @ .2693kg CO2 = 48,924kG CO2 reduced (48 t CO2)
• Last year Ireland’s grid emitted 254.8g CO2/kWh
• Remaining 121,116kWh (electric) x .2548Kg CO2e/kWh = 30,860kg or 31 tonnes of CO2 remaining which reduces year on year as the grid meets its 2030 target of 75% renewables (currently c.40% renewables).