As regulators and environmentally conscious companies place greater emphasis on sustainability initiatives, the logistics and transportation industry has faced increasing pressure to pursue electrification. The government aims to reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, but in order to achieve this goal, it is imperative for logistics and transportation companies to take steps toward decarbonization.
While switching to EV tractors may appear to be the most obvious path forward, replacing diesel tractors with electric units presents a number of challenges, including financial barriers and infrastructure scalability complexities. In order to help fleets make significant strides toward reducing their Scope 3 carbon emissions and maintain compliance with federal regulations, Range Energy has introduced an ePTS (Electric Powered Trailer System), which offers a practical, scalable, and much less expensive alternative to full fleet electrification.
As Regulators Look to Lower Emissions, Scope 3 Provides a Valuable Starting Point
In fiscal year 2023, supply chains were responsible for nearly 90% of all carbon emissions in the U.S. Scope 3 emissions, in particular, refer to the indirect greenhouse gasses that are emitted within a company’s value chain and are not necessarily within a company’s control. This includes emissions from supplier activity, as well as the transport of goods to the end consumer and the ultimate disposal of products after they have been used by consumers.
The level of emissions attributed to supply chains has led to a number of regulatory pressures at the state and federal levels. The Green Deal in the European Union (EU), for example, requires all large companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S., the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets legislation is designed to phase out medium- and heavy-duty internal combustion engines in the state, with a goal of achieving completely zero-emission transport vehicles in the state by 2045. It impacts fleets with 50 or more trucks that earn more than $50 million in yearly revenue, as well as drayage vehicles and fleets owned by local government or state agencies. While the Clean Fleets legislation is perhaps the most aggressive in terms of goals and timing within the U.S., other states may also elect to follow California’s standards rather than federal standards.
In addition to governmental pressures, many shippers are placing increased emphasis on sustainability efforts and are looking to transportation partners who can help them achieve their decarbonization goals, making it critical for carriers and logistics companies to work toward lowering Scope 3 emissions as well.
While EVs may seem to be the answer for meeting decarbonization goals, the costs and infrastructure requirements associated with adopting EV fleets make alternative approaches — such as Range Energy’s ePTS — much more attractive and affordable for those looking to make significant gains in the near term.
Fleet Decarbonization, Simplified: Leveraging Hybrid Trailers for Scope 3 Emissions Mitigation
Range Energy’s hybrid ePTS is a cost-effective, scalable, and practical solution for companies looking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions without the cost, infrastructure investments, operational complexities, and potential downtime that come with transitioning to an EV fleet.
Improving Fuel Efficiency
The Range Energy ePTS is designed to work with current tractor equipment and uses electric propulsion assistance to reduce the workload of the tractor while improving fuel efficiency and lowering Scope 3 emissions in the process. Companies who utilize the ePTS see immediate benefits, with up to 70% reduction in emissions and 40% or more in fuel savings.
Powering Hybrid Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs)
When it comes to diesel TRUs, nearly all that are being utilized today are powered by diesel, which makes them a major contributor to overall Scope 3 emissions. According to Air Quality News, one TRU can release as much as 12 tons of carbon emissions annually. Additionally, the introduction of 23–25-horsepower trailer TRUs has led to higher emission rates as these units release 15 times more diesel particulate matter and 1.5 times more NOx gases than 25–50-horsepower trailer TRUs, as noted by CARB. Range Energy’s ePTS transforms traditional TRUs into zero-emission units, allowing them to be powered by electricity instead while reducing fuel costs, noise, and harmful emissions.
Seamless Integration and Simplified Adoption
Range Energy’s ePTS can easily be integrated with the tractors that fleets already use, serving as a bolt-on addition that can be installed using basic tools to convert any dry van or reefer trailer to a hybrid unit within a few hours. This minimizes disruption to daily operations and allows fleets to achieve cost savings immediately. The hybrid units also increase uptime for drivers by allowing charging to occur during dwell periods rather than requiring additional stops — making the ePTS a practical and scalable solution.
A Practical Approach to Reducing Scope 3 Emissions
As the call for lowering Scope 3 emissions and achieving greater sustainability continues to grow, fleets have choices when it comes to how they remain compliant and work toward decarbonization. The Range Energy ePTS provides a scalable, practical, and affordable alternative to replacing diesel tractors with EVs. Any dry van or reefer trailer can be converted to a hybrid unit within hours, allowing fleets to keep moving while reducing their carbon footprint, meeting regulatory requirements, and achieving greater cost savings.
To learn how the Range Energy ePTS can help reduce Scope 3 emissions for your fleet, complete our pilot interest form, and a team member will contact you to schedule a demo.