Trucking's Future: Autonomous Drive & EV Hurdles

The future of trucking is standing on shifting sands, with autonomous trucks rolling out on specific routes, and pioneering electric vehicle (EV) companies facing supply chain issues. KargoBot, incubated by Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi, unveiled that it now operates over 100 autonomous trucks in Inner Mongolia, with CEO Junqing Wei detailing the successful but complex formula:

• Hybrid Driverless Solution: KargoBot's Level 4 trucks drive autonomously but are 'grouped' with a human-driven leading truck, ensuring smooth operation on challenging terrains.
• Augment, Not Replace: Wei emphasized that the goal is not to wholly replace human drivers, but to enhance their capabilities.

Meanwhile, in the electric HGV sphere, Volta Trucks announced bankruptcy after their battery supplier, Proterra, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This unexpected event affected Volta's manufacturing plans and capital-raising abilities, leading to a diminished vehicle production forecast. Despite having designed the world's first 16-tonne all-electric truck and received substantial orders, such as the 1,500 from DB Schenker, Volta's journey underscores the vulnerabilities and challenges the EV market currently faces.

Sources: CNBC | The Loadstar