Electric Short-Haul Trucks

Short-haul trucks are a critical segment of the commercial EV transition, bridging the gap between delivery vans and heavy-duty Class 7–8 trucks. These vehicles, typically in the Class 2–6 range, are used for urban and regional freight, municipal services, utility work, and vocational tasks such as box trucks, flatbeds, and service trucks. They are highly suitable for electrification due to predictable routes, centralized depot operations, and increasing policy mandates. OEMs like Ford, GM, Freightliner, Volvo, BYD, and Lion Electric are actively producing electric short-haul trucks, with deployments scaling across North America, Europe, and Asia.

See also Class 8 long-haul electric trucks.

Segment Taxonomy

The table below outlines the typical U.S. truck classes relevant to the short-haul segment.

Short-haul electric trucks

Spotlight: Freightliner eM2

The Freightliner eM2, a Class 6 medium-duty truck, highlights the potential of short-haul electrification. Designed for urban pickup-and-delivery, food distribution, and vocational applications, it features a 315 kWh battery for a range of up to 250 miles. Customers like Penske and Sysco are piloting fleets across the U.S. Key points:

• 315 kWh battery, ~250 mile range
• DC fast charging up to 150 kW
• Suited for pickup & delivery, food & beverage distribution, regional fleets
• Demonstrates economics for high-utilization depot-based fleets

Charging & Energy Considerations

Short-haul trucks rely on depot-based charging, often overnight, with occasional fast charging for higher-utilization fleets. Battery capacities typically range from 100–300 kWh, with 100–250 miles of range depending on class and payload.

Technology Stack

Electric short-haul trucks share many components with larger EVs but emphasize balance between payload, range, and charging compatibility.

Market Outlook

Short-haul trucks are one of the strongest adoption candidates among commercial vehicles. Their duty cycles, centralized operations, and growing regulatory pressure create favorable conditions. Adoption is expected to accelerate rapidly through the late 2020s, especially in urban areas with clean-air mandates.