Shell: Early Electric Truck Adopters can Gain Cost Edge
A report from Shell and its subsidiary SBRS could challenge assumptions about electric truck economics. The whitepaper examines total cost of ownership rather than upfront price alone.
According to Shell, heavy-duty fleets using an integrated charging network can achieve a total cost of ownership (TCO) 10% lower than diesel models. The savings materialise only under specific conditions.
Purchase price versus lifecycle costs
Electric trucks currently cost between 1.6 and 2.3 times more than diesel equivalents when purchased new. The second-hand market for these vehicles remains small and unpredictable.
Infrastructure presents additional barriers. Depot upgrades often face grid capacity constraints, and charging point availability along trucking routes remains limited in many countries.
According to the report, electric trucks can be 55% more energy efficient than diesel equivalents. The efficiency creates opportunities for operational cost savings if charging is managed effectively.
Shell argues that focusing solely on purchase price overlooks longer-term cost reductions. The company's modelling suggests these reductions can offset the higher initial investment.
Three requirements for cost advantage
Shell's 10% TCO advantage depends on three conditions working together. The first involves converting depot charging infrastructure into a revenue stream by opening it to third-party operators when fleet vehicles are on the road.
Shell operates some depots as semi-public facilities. Depot owners allow access during low-utilisation periods. Other facilities fall into the eDepot+ category, which gives access to approved subcontractors and logistics partners.
According to the whitepaper, revenue from shared charging sessions can offset a fleet's own energy costs. In some cases the revenue could exceed those costs.
The second condition involves energy cost optimisation at the depot. Shell's model assumes 75% of charging takes place at depot locations.
Smart charging schedules sessions during off-peak periods to avoid high-tariff windows. Shell's Charge Point Management System automates the process.
According to the report, depot energy costs can be reduced by up to 30%. The reduction combines tailored energy contracts with on-site renewable generation.
The third condition requires access to network-level pricing and market incentives. Germany offers toll exemptions where electric trucks are exempt from the MAUT heavy-duty road toll until at least 2031.
According to Shell's modelling, a truck covering 116,000 kilometres per year with 75% of mileage on toll roads could save more than €150,000 (US$173,000) over five years. The savings depend on the German toll exemption scheme.
Regional variations in economics
The economics vary by market. Germany benefits from the MAUT exemption. The Netherlands combines favourable tolling policy with Energy Recognition Credits.
Shell claims the credits on behalf of customers. The company's modelling suggests the Dutch scheme could contribute more than €76,000 (US$88,000) over five years.
The UK however, presents different challenges. Without kilometre-based tolling advantages, battery-electric vehicle costs remain higher than diesel in the absence of an integrated charging system.
For UK fleets, shared charging revenue becomes the primary mechanism for closing the cost gap. Whether semi-public demand exists at sufficient scale to deliver that revenue remains an open question in the report.
Sustainability leaders won’t want to miss Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit at London Climate Action Week, taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026.
Register now for this exclusive invite-only event.
Environmental regulations and timing
Shell's report makes a case for early adoption. From 2027, the EU's Emissions Trading System for Buildings and Road Transport will require fuel suppliers to purchase carbon allowances for road transport.
Increased costs are expected to be passed on to operators. Battery-electric trucks produce zero tailpipe emissions and fall outside that scheme's scope.
The report argues that early movers could benefit more from Shell's network economics as the number of shared charging sessions grows. The incentive structure weakens the longer a fleet waits.
"Electric trucking is no longer a cost barrier or a future consideration," the company says. "Under the right conditions, it's already a competitive advantage."
Whether this claim holds across the range of fleet sizes, routes and energy contexts that define the real UK and European freight market remains to be tested. Shell's TCO calculator, linked in the report, invites operators to test the model against their own numbers.
