Translated from a LinkedIn post in Dutch.
Almost 20% of all new trucks sold in the Netherlands are electric. But electrification does not only change the fleet. It changes what planning means.
The question is shifting from "how do I get goods from A to B?" to "how do I plan energy use as smartly as possible?"
Diesel prices are roughly the same for everyone. But the price per kWh? That can be steered.
Our energy simulator regularly shows that smart planning, combined with a well-designed energy infrastructure, can lower the cost per kWh by 30%. A 30% cost advantage on energy, when energy makes up a third of a truck's total cost of ownership: that is a competitive edge.
But it asks something new of the organisation, because this is not a question for one department. It involves:
- the facility manager: charging infrastructure, grid connection, solar panels;
- the fleet manager: which vehicle, which specifications;
- the planner: route planning aligned with energy availability and price.
Three roles, three perspectives, sometimes conflicting interests, and still one joint optimum to find.
That requires new skills in day-to-day business: energy-aware planning, working across silos, and understanding how operational choices feed straight into the energy bill. The transition to electric driving is increasingly solvable technically. The next challenge is organisational and human.
Those who invest in these skills will reap the benefits of the infrastructure being built today.
#electrification #logistics #energyplanning #fleetmanagement #sustainabletransport #skills