Electric trucks already have a lower total cost of ownership than diesel trucks in 6 of the European Union’s 9 major truck markets, the analysis showed. CleanTechnica reported on Monday that the six markets account for 46 percent of new EU heavy-duty truck sales.

T&E’s analysis found that electric trucks in the Netherlands could cut costs by up to 100,000 euros over five years. The figure was 85,000 euros in Germany and 69,000 euros in Denmark. In those markets, electric trucks have reached a level where the investment can be recouped in 2 years.

Savings were larger when operating lower-priced Chinese-made trucks. In the Netherlands, the five-year savings could rise to as much as 128,000 euros, the analysis showed.

This trend was attributed to the combined effect of expanding production scale, falling vehicle prices and national support policies. The EU’s carbon dioxide emission standards for trucks drove an expansion in electric-truck supply, and vehicle subsidies and lower road tolls also contributed to reducing costs.

As concerns over a new energy crisis grow in Europe, the gap in operating costs between diesel and electric trucks is widening. T&E said that if current policies are maintained and some additional measures such as the Eurovignette Directive and RED III are added, operating costs for electric trucks would be lower in all 9 member states surveyed by 2030, even if current vehicle purchase subsidies are reduced.

T&E proposed that the EU should maintain its 2030 target of cutting truck carbon dioxide emissions by 43 percent. It said Italy, France, Spain and Poland should implement the Eurovignette Directive, which fully exempts zero-emission trucks from road infrastructure charges until 2031 and then grants a 50 to 75 percent reduction. It added that Sweden, France, Poland, Italy and Spain should apply RED III electricity credits to depot charging as well as public charging to lower power costs.