A Ticket to Ride: The Market Potential for Electric Trucks in Urban Building and Construction.

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to determine how electric vehicle trucks can meet the needs of customers in the urban building and construction sector. This sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and also creates noise and other disturbances in urban environments. There are multiple benefits that come with electric trucks, which can address these issues if they are used for applications within cities. In order for electric trucks to be considered by customers, they must be matched properly with customer needs. Data was collected from customers through a series of expert interviews and a survey of truck drivers. Original Equipment Manufacturers, logistics experts, policy experts, and construction companies were among those interviewed to better understand the current industry situation. The data was organized into a Value Proposition canvas that showed both the customer issues and the subsequent solutions that can be created through the use of electric trucks. The major findings showed that customers are wary of electric trucks, but that they are aware that changing policies could make electric trucks a more competitive choice for their business. They expect that municipal legislation will become stricture in regard to environmental regulations. Furthermore, experts interviewed during this research agreed that environmental restrictions in cities will become stricter in the future, and electric trucks may eventually be a part of these regulations. Many pilot projects exist across Europe that can encourage the uptake of these trucks, including some very notable projects in Sweden. In order for these projects to have an impact, they must involve Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), municipal governments, and truck customers. It will be crucial to educate customers about the electric truck technology, and also to assist them with initial financial risk in the near future.