Company offers trials of electric semis

One Energy Enterprises, an industrial power company north of Findlay, has started an electric semi-truck trial program, for fleet operators. In its "Just Roll" program, One Energy has added the Daimler eCascadia Class 8 Battery BEV to its test fleet. It is allowing companies to try trucks which it is leasing directly from manufacturers. "We are seeing strong interest in electric trucks from local fleet operators but they haven't had a way to test the vehicles – until now," said Jereme Kent, chief executive officer of One Energy. "With our 'Just Roll' vehicle demo program, we are breaking down the barriers to widespread adoption of electric truck technology and putting top-tier semi models in the hands of fleet operators." In the "Just Roll" program, qualified fleet operators can test the trucks on their normal routes at no cost for 30-60 days, One Energy reported. One Energy provides the use of its state-of-the-art charging infrastructure, including the cost of power, and supplies the trucks so that interested fleet operators can give them a trial. One Energy recently announced the opening of its 30-megawatt (MW) electric semi-truck fleet charging site. Located at the Findlay Megawatt Hub, it is the largest constructed electric truck charging site in the United States in terms of available charging capacity. The site power system can accommodate up to 30 MW of charging demand in its current configuration. The goal of the Just Roll program is to accelerate the use of electric semis in the Midwest, where the economics of electric semi-trucks, absent incentives, are more attractive than in other areas of the country, Kent said. Interested fleet operators can learn more at www.JustRollBEV.com.