Heads up — EV sales are cooling off, and that could hit the trucking world more than you think.
Quick version: some companies have been using EV profits to bankroll their AI and automation plans. Now that EV demand is slowing, that cash flow dries up, and those tech bets could get delayed or scaled back. ⚠️🤖
What this means for us on the road:
- 🔌 Electric truck rollouts may slow: If manufacturers pull back on EV investments, new electric semis and support gear (chargers, service techs) could arrive slower than promised.
- ⛽️ Diesel stays king, for now: Less EV adoption means fleets may keep ordering diesel rigs — so fuel costs and maintenance patterns won’t change overnight.
- 💸 Pay and freight rates: Short term, not much direct effect — but long term, fewer productivity gains from AI/autonomy could slow down efficiency improvements that might impact capacity and rates.
- 🔧 Parts & service: If EV fleets don’t grow, fewer shops will specialize in electric systems, so finding EV-specific service could stay tricky and expensive.
- 📉 Used market & trade-ins: Slowing EV demand could push residual values down for some EV models — might mean better prices if you’re buying used, or lower trade-in value if you’re trying to cash out.
Bottom line: we probably won’t see a sudden crash in tech overnight, but expect delays and more uncertainty. Companies may pause or slow AI/autonomy projects until EV sales pick back up, which could push any big changes (self-driving or large-scale electrification) further down the road. 🛣️
Stay sharp: if you’re considering an EV truck or counting on autonomy to change your job, ask questions about timelines, warranties, and support networks before you sign anything. 🔍
Share your take — have you gotten any sales pitches or seen fewer EV rigs on your routes?
#Truckers #EV #Freight #Logistics