Chinese Electric Heavy Trucks: Over 16,000 Units Exported in Four Months

When it comes to Chinese new energy vehicles going overseas, most people think first of passenger EVs. In fact, Chinese electric trucks are also rising rapidly as a new force.

In the four months from March to June this year, China exported a total of 16,823 heavy electric trucks. Exports to South Asia grew fivefold year-on-year, while exports to Southeast Asia surged nearly threefold.

Since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked. For traditional "oil-guzzling" heavy trucks, times have been tough. Not only have gasoline and diesel prices soared, but in many countries, money cannot even guarantee an adequate fuel supply. This has prompted many fleets to accelerate their transition, choosing Chinese heavy trucks as replacements.

Zhou Shixin, Director of the Southeast Asia Research Center at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told Yicai that the strong momentum of electric heavy truck exports demonstrates that by identifying the right fit with market demand and relying on a mature industrial chain, bilateral economic and trade cooperation can deepen and solidify continuously.

The Economics of Electric Heavy Trucks

Since the US-Israel-Iran conflict erupted, diesel prices needed for heavy trucks have soared. In Sri Lanka, diesel prices rose 48%; in the Philippines, 57%. High fuel prices have led many owners to decisively abandon traditional fuel vehicles and embrace electric heavy trucks.

Yue Zhaoting, Vice President of International Marketing at SANY Group, the world's largest manufacturer of electric heavy trucks, explained: "Before oil prices rose, buyers in some countries might have needed 28 months to recoup the investment in an electric heavy truck. Now it takes only 18 months."

The purchase price of electric heavy trucks is significantly higher than that of traditional diesel trucks—a major barrier to promotion. Daniel Bleakley, co-founder of New Energy Transport in Australia, stated that in Australia, an electric truck costs approximately 500,000 AUD (about 2.394 million RMB), double the price of a diesel truck. However, the savings on fuel enable quick cost recovery. Even before the conflict, the operating costs of electric trucks were 70% lower than diesel trucks.

He also noted that his company has long partnered with Chinese EV and charging equipment manufacturers. This year, the Middle East conflict caused oil prices to spike, throwing Australia's road freight—highly dependent on imported diesel—into crisis. Chinese electric trucks not only significantly reduced road freight costs but also bolstered Australia's energy and supply chain security.

According to the Centre for Research on Clean Air and Energy (CREA), headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, electric trucks operating within China this year are expected to save approximately 141 million barrels of oil—equivalent to China's annual crude oil imports from Kuwait. Meanwhile, the organization calculates that the fuel displaced by Chinese electric truck exports in the first half of this year, on an annualized basis, amounts to approximately 1.6 million barrels.

Global Expansion

In Yemen, war, economic recession, rising transportation costs, and damaged infrastructure have made life increasingly difficult for residents. Food, fuel, and other daily necessities are heavily dependent on imports, making the country highly vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility. The emergence of electric vehicles has provided local drivers and small business operators with a lower-cost, more stable alternative.

According to Xinhua News Agency, at the Al-Raibi Auto Company showroom in Sana'a, customers browse among Chinese-made electric pickups and commercial vehicles, examining charging systems and discussing battery range and operating costs.

The company's manager, Ali Abdullah Al-Gabri, said demand for Chinese electric trucks has grown significantly in recent months. "In the current economic environment, people look for every possible way to help them reduce costs and sustain their businesses," he said. High cost-performance is an important reason Chinese electric trucks attract consumers. Yemeni people previously built trust in Chinese products through other equipment, and now more and more people view Chinese electric trucks as a practical, reliable choice.

In Ethiopia, Africa, the first batch of 50 electric heavy trucks produced by a Chinese company was delivered on April 29 at the Bishoftu International Airport construction site, marking the first deployment of electric heavy trucks in the country.

According to Xinhua, Yan Shaofa, Chief Engineer of the Bishoftu International Airport apron project by CCCC First Highway Engineering Group, introduced that these trucks have a range of 220 km per charge. The construction site has installed 19 charging stations, with each truck taking approximately 50 minutes to fully charge. Upon completion, Bishoftu International Airport will become Africa's largest aviation hub.

In Europe, the electric truck market is still dominated by traditional European manufacturers such as Daimler, Volvo, Iveco, and Volkswagen. European truck customers have high brand loyalty and are not easily receptive to new foreign brands, making market entry challenging for Chinese electric trucks.

However, Chinese electric trucks are also opening doors. The CEO of a Belgian logistics company, De Clerck, stated that his company ordered Weedou Technology's E700 electric trucks with a full-charge range of 670 km and a charging time of just 35 minutes—more than twice as fast as most European electric trucks on the market. "Chinese technology is about three years ahead of Europe," he said.

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