Luis -

These days, I think that an operating cost or total ownership cost comparison is very important when comparing an electric truck to an IC truck (LPG or diesel), given the current cost of these fuels.

I do such comparisons frequently in my job and use a cost calculator that we developed. Someone referenced one on the Raymond web site but my opinion is that it is not adequate for this type of comparison. Two other web-based calculators are found at the following:

http://www.lift-truck-cost-tool.com/Source/TCOMain.aspx

http://www.trucktruth.com/calculator/

In each case, the results are only as good as the information that you input about the application.

As others have said, there are an abundance of application-based factors that will affect your operation costs. However, you can do a reasonably accurate cost analysis without drilling down to each detail.

For example, you should be able to find out what the kWh rate a specific industrial customer is paying and estimate the overall electricity cost to re-charge your battery using an equation similar to that given by Bruce (actually, I have found that the efficiency of today's three-phase chargers and fast chargers is typically better than the rate Bruce quoted, but that is a good conservative estimate).

The average kWh rates in the US vary a lot by state. I do not know if you have the same regional variations in Mexico. However, when I do comparisons, these days, the cost to re-charge a battery is usually between 10%-15% of the costs of a 33lb LPG tank, using John's assumption that both will be exhausted after one shift (another characteristic that varies a lot).

As noted, the cost of the electric truck, battery (s), charger, etc are substantially higher than the cost of a comparable IC truck. As such, the amount of annual hours used has a huge influence on the overall ownership costs, because of the huge discrepancy in fuel costs (electric vs IC), as well as typical maintenance costs, as others have indicated. In applications where you run over 1800 hours per year, the difference in the acquisition costs of an electric vs IC truck can be made up in 2 years. Not so if the truck is being used less than 1000 hours per year.

I must disagree, at least in part, with some of the statements above, though.

First, certain electric trucks can be used as indoor/outdoor trucks. In fact, electric pneumatic trucks are specifically designed for such usage (most of these designs are derived from Europe where trucks are side loading trailers frequently, so outdoor travel is required. Of course, as applications and elements become more severe, additional protection must be considered, including installation of cabs, but to say that all electric trucks are solely indoor trucks is just not accurate.

Also, I have seen some very successful fast charge applications (and some unsuccessful ones). I have seen fleets that have now gone over 5 years with no failed batteries, cells, etc. However, it does take an application with some rather specific parameters for a fast charge installation to be cost effective and successful, overall.

Lastly, on performance, there are some 80 volt electric sit down trucks with performance characteristics that, overall, exceed those of the market leading IC cushion and pneumatic style trucks. You don't necessarily have to take a back seat on performance by using an electric truck, in some cases.