In 2022, electric cars had the greatest sales year yet, and for good reason: EVs are becoming more practical with wider availability, longer driving ranges, and improved technology that is making them better vehicles than ever before. But with that said, there are certainly many pros and cons of electric cars – both for car owners and for car haulers.
It’s arguably more difficult to haul all-electric cars for a couple of reasons, but at the same time, it can also be more lucrative. Here are the pros and cons of electric car hauling.
Con: Much Heavier than Gas-Powered Vehicles
The biggest con of electric car hauling is the big weight difference between gas-powered vehicles. Because of the large lithium-ion batteries that they’re made with, EVs weigh more – quite a bit more– than regular cars. This means that your truck is going to be hauling more weight than normal, which will also affect your truck’s fuel efficiency than if you were to haul the same amount of gas-powered cars.
On average, gas-powered cars weigh around 3,000 pounds, whereas the average weight of a Tesla vehicle is 4,600 pounds – that’s a whopping 53% weight increase. As another example, the Ford F-150 Lightning will weigh about 1,600 pounds more than the gas-powered F-150 truck.
Pro: Cornering a Niche Market
Of course, there are also some pros of electric cars. For one, electric cars aren’t transported quite as often as gas-powered vehicles, so car haulers who cater specifically to EVs may stand out from the crowd. Cornering a niche market is never a bad idea, as it allows your business to differentiate itself from other Carriers. Electric cars are typically more expensive and delicate than their similar gas-powered counterparts, therefore many consumers will flock to car haulers who are experienced with transporting EVs specifically.
Con: Haul Fewer Cars At Once
Another electric car con is the issue of weight capacity. Because of the massive weight increase, hauling electric cars causes trailers to reach their maximum weight capacity much quicker. As a result, Carriers who transport EVs will be stuck hauling fewer cars at once. This can be a huge hit to car haulers who plan on hauling many cars during a single trip, as the reduced quantity can mean less business.
And while there are many different types of trailers that each have different weight capacities, car haulers will still be reaching their carrying capacity sooner regardless of how large of a trailer they choose. As an example, a double goose-neck trailer maxes out at 15,000 pounds. When hauling gas-powered cars, this trailer fits five cars; hauling all-electric cars would reduce the maximum capacity to just three.
Pro: Earn More Per Vehicle
On the other hand, car haulers can charge more for hauling all-electric cars because of their heavier weight. Because of this, it is very possible to earn more money from hauling electric cars, especially if you happen to regularly haul a lower quantity of vehicles at once. While it is true that the heavier weight of electric vehicles does reduce the maximum amount of cars a Carrier can fit in their trailer, this isn’t an issue for all haulers. If you normally only transport 3-4 cars at a time, then electric vehicles may actually be the preferred choice over gas-powered cars.
Carriers can potentially haul the exact same amount of cars per week, while charging more per car. The increased earnings made from moving electric cars could easily make up for the higher fuel costs, and allow your business to earn more for the exact same amount of work.
So, are electric cars worth it? Well, it depends. While electric cars can sometimes be a bit more difficult and expensive to move, their higher value can still allow many car haulers to earn more money overall – but it may just depend on your own circumstances as a car hauler.
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