Page 23 - Newcom

Business
Driverless trucks and the transfer hub model
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
The U.S. truck population could shrink by as much as 13% if half the freight is moved by autonomous trucks using a transfer hub model.
Stephan Keese, senior partner with Roland Berger, explained at the FTR Transportation Confer- ence here in September, how such a model would work.
The transfer hub model consists of two yards at either end of a high- way that allows autonomous trucks. They’d be completely driverless on this section of highway. Loads would be dropped in the yard and drayage trucks with a driver would finish the trip to the product’s destination.
Keese said he feels the trans- fer hub model using autonomous trucks will be feasible by the mid- dle of the next decade, if fully autonomous trucks are allowed on certain highways.
“The autonomous highway seg- ment connects two transfer hubs,” he explained, “which are big parking
Ryder places
order for 1,000 e-vans
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Ryder System announced it has placed the largest commercial elec- tric vehicle (EV) order in the U.S.
The company ordered 1,000 medi- um-duty electric panel vans from Chanje Energy, and will supply FedEx with leasing and preventive maintenance services through its ChoiceLease program. The fleet will be deployed through California over the next two years, Ryder announced.
“With our focus on innovation and technology, combined with our entry into the EV market more than a year ago, we’ve made it easy for customers such as FedEx to adopt sustainable, advanced vehicle technologies,” says Dennis Cooke, president – global fleet management solutions for Ryder. “We continue to see broaden- ing interest in EVs from businesses of various sizes and industries looking to outsource – especially in the final mile delivery space where a smaller, more environmentally-friendly vehi- cle is required.”
Ryder will support the vehicles through its network of 800 facili- ties. The Chanje vehicles can haul up to 6,000 lbs and 675 cubic feet of cargo, with a 150-mile range on a single charge. TN
lots directly connected to the high- way. You can run in platoon with driverless Stage 4 autonomous vehi- cles from one transfer hub as long as you want to go, only restricted by refueling needs.”
All that’s needed to facilitate such a business model is the real estate and the vehicles.
“We have the hardware, the sen- sors and vehicle controls,” Keese said. “Most are already available. It’s about getting the costs down for the individual technologies.”
He feels the technology costs will come down to about $15,000- $20,000, “making it very afford- able by the end of the next decade for mass application in the market.”
Keese modeled out a typical long- haul operation which would incur about $1.93 per mile in total operat- ing costs. Of that, 73 cents per mile goes towards the driver.
“In a transfer hub scenario you wouldn’t need a driver anymore, so you can take that entire cost out of the longhaul portion,” Keese said.
Equipment costs would be higher, but fuel and maintenance should cost less, thanks to accident reduc- tion and efficient driving.
With short drayage hauls on either end, Keese said a fleet would reduce its longhaul transporta- tion costs between 20% and 40%. Another advantage is the auton- omous trucks can run around the clock.
“An autonomous truck doesn’t have any restrictions,” he said.
Keese figures the transfer hub model is economically feasible for hauls longer than 250 miles. If the U.S. widely allows autonomous trucks on its highways, as much as 50% of freight could be moved in this manner, Keese said. Fewer vehicles would be required, shrink- ing the overall U.S. truck fleet by as much as 13%.
Adoption of the model, Keese said, depends on “regulatory and society acceptance.”
“The cost saving potential of driverless trucks will lead to the adoption of new business models such as the transfer hub concept,” he said. TN
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January 2019 • Truck News 23