Will Grille Guards Fit Electric Semi Trucks?
There are an estimated 60,000 electric commercial trucks on the road in the United States with those numbers expected to increase in the next few years as the technology behind electric semis becomes more and more viable. With prices for electric semi trucks expected to be on the higher end, there are many trucking and freight companies looking for ways to protect their investment, and many business owners and commercial drivers want to know — will grille guards fit electric semi trucks? RIGGUARD has the answers.
Are Grille Guards Compatible with Commercial EV Trucks?
The short answer — Yes — there are grille guards available on the market for electric semi trucks.
Fleet managers and owner-operators need to understand that the grille guards compatible with commercial EV trucks are not the same as grille guards built for internal combustion engine trucks. These grille guards need to account for the modern electronics and radar-based collision-avoidance systems integrated into the front-ends of many electric trucks. This means that grille guard manufacturers need to develop more purpose-built grille guards that are compatible with electric semis.
4 Factors that Determine Grille Guard and EV Truck Compatibility
There are a few factors that will impact the compatibility of grille guards with EV semi trucks that include the placement and function of collision avoidance sensors, electric driving range, and mounting capabilities. Here is a closer look at each factor that impacts the compatibility of grille guards and electric commercial trucks:
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): More and more commercial trucks have implemented radar-based collision detection and avoidance systems to help keep drivers and equipment safe. This is even more prevalent with electric semi trucks, and the compatibility of a grille guard will depend on if the guard’s design interferes or interacts with the onboard sensors.
- Grille Guard Mounting Points: Electric semi trucks employ a different front-end design than trucks with diesel engines and that design will impact how grille guards are mounted. Compatible grille guards will need to be bolted to the frame of commercial trucks without impacting the performance of the vehicle, and this may require distinct designs.
- Truck Weight and Electric Range: EVs are built to maximize range, and that influences almost every design aspect of the vehicle — including its weight. A high-quality steel grille guard can add 100 – 150+ pounds to the front end of a commercial truck that can have a significant impact on electric driving range and influences design compatibility. Aluminum grille guards provide a lighter alternative to steel grille guards without excessive penalties to range.
- Aerodynamics and Cooling: Electric trucks are built with lightweight materials and aerodynamic designs that maximize driving range and efficiency — and while a standard grille guard has a minimal impact on diesel fuel economy, it can have a larger impact on EVs. A compatible grille guard will not penalize aerodynamics and will work within the truck’s design to improve performance.
Semi Truck Brands with Electric Vehicle Options
There are multiple commercial truck brands that have developed or are currently developing electric semi trucks for commercial use — and RIGGUARD has manufactured grille guards for many of those brands. Freight companies interested in grille guards for electric semi trucks from the brands listed below can contact RIGGUARD about compatible grille guard options.
- Freightliner — eCascadia Models
- Kenworth — T680E Models
- Peterbilt — 579EV Models
- Volvo — VNR Electric Models
- International — Electric MV Series Models
- Tesla — Tesla Semi Models
- Isuzu — Class 5 NRR EV Models
READ MORE: Is a Grille Guard Worth the Investment for Your Truck?
Freight carriers interested in electric commercial trucks may have questions about how to protect their brand-new equipment — and a high-quality grille guard may be a viable option. With that added layer of protection in mind, many trucking companies want to know if grille guards will fit electric semi trucks, and we may have the answers at RIGGUARD.
Contact RIGGUARD today for more information on our line of semi truck grille guards!