Repairs and maintenance are a fact of life when it comes to the trucking industry. You’re likely all too familiar with problems that can happen with diesel engines.

However, it looks like electric trucks will be the trucks of the future. So, what does that mean for repair and maintenance?

It turns out that repairing and maintaining an electric truck will be a lot different from that of a diesel engine. To see how they stack side by side, continue reading below.

Electric Engines Vs. Diesel Engines

Of course, the most significant difference between an electric and diesel truck is how they’re powered. Electric motors power electric trucks while diesel engines combust fuel.

For example, Tesla’s new commercial truck called the Semi is powered by four electric motors. However, just because there are more motors doesn’t mean there’s more maintenance.

That’s because electric motors require less maintenance than diesel engines. Electric motors, their batteries, and electronics need little or no regular maintenance.

On top of that, there are fewer fluids, like engine oil, to worry about managing.

Diesel engines, on the other hand, need a lot of regular maintenance. Keeping up with a truck’s maintenance is crucial to ensure the longevity of the truck.

Even with regular maintenance, engine problems are bound to occur. Perhaps the most significant difference with diesel engines is wear and tear.

Diesel engines will lose power over their lifecycle and become weaker. Electric motors typically don’t get weaker with age and will work as good as new so long as there isn’t a major problem.

Electric Truck Vs. Diesel Truck Tires and Braking

Besides the engine, the highest cost in repair and maintenance is in the tires. Buying new tires or retreading them is expensive.

For electric trucks, this cost might actually be higher, however. That’s because electric truck operators will want to use specially crafted tires.

Since electric trucks weigh more, they need special tires that can take the added weight. On top of that, low rolling resistance tires will be needed to improve range.

In contrast, diesel truck operators can choose from a wide range of tires. However, low rolling resistance tires may be a good idea for fuel economy.

Also, electric truck braking systems can last nearly twice as long as traditional braking systems. That’s because of the regenerative braking feature in most electric vehicles.

That means that an electric truck will save a lot on maintenance related to braking.

More Specialists Needed for Electric Trucks

One of the main problems facing electric trucks is the shortage of experienced technicians. Since electric trucks aren’t widespread, neither are trained technicians.

Right now, technicians are being trained parallel to the development of electric trucks. Electric truck technicians will be working with high-voltage and software-heavy components.

That’s much different than the way that diesel technicians are currently repairing trucks.

A Long Road Ahead

If we glimpse into the future, it looks like electric trucks will reduce repair and maintenance costs. However, the widespread use of commercial electric trucks is still a long way off.

For the time being, we’ll still need to deal with the dirt and grime that comes with fixing and maintaining diesel trucks.