> Right now they have to carry around far too much weight and bulk in batteries, and take far too long to charge, and the batteries don't have a long enough lifespan
That's why electric Semis are heavily subsidized by the IRA - in order to incentivize the economies of scale needed to spur innovation in the space.
It's a similar move to the PEV industry and Obama's, California's, and Texas' subsidies for it in the 2008-12 period establishing that market in North America.
To me this feels a bit backwards. The issue is not the semi part. It's nothing unique to semis. It's just that the scale of semis makes the flaws of current battery technology significantly more of an issue.
Really, the funding should go more directly to general battery RnD - not eSemis specifically.
That's why electric Semis are heavily subsidized by the IRA - in order to incentivize the economies of scale needed to spur innovation in the space.
It's a similar move to the PEV industry and Obama's, California's, and Texas' subsidies for it in the 2008-12 period establishing that market in North America.