Electric Trucks and Vehicles
From commercial trucks to cargo vans and school buses, the industry-leading brands we represent offer a variety of electric trucks and vehicles. Not every electric vehicle will work best for every application, but we’re here to help you make the best available choice for your business.
View Electric Vehicle Inventory Click here to view electric vehicle inventory
Peterbilt Electric Trucks
Peterbilt is leading the charge in the electric truck market. The Model 579EV, 520EV and 220EV combine the reliability and durability Peterbilt is known for with clean, efficient operation that delivers lower emissions and less environmental impact.
International Electric Trucks
International pairs years of experience with industry-leading infrastructure to offer the “just right” electric truck solution. The revolutionary International eMV™ Series is built on the same proven foundation as the diesel MV Series while offering the benefits of reduced maintenance and zero emissions.
Ford Electric Vehicles
Drive into the future with Ford’s all-electric vehicles. The F-150 Lightning® pickup truck, Mustang Mach-E® SUV and E-Transit™ cargo, chassis cab and cutaway vans offer an efficient and exhilarating driving experience paired with minimal scheduled maintenance costs and zero vehicle emissions.
Isuzu Electric Trucks
Isuzu has become synonymous with innovation in transportation and now they’re bringing their first battery electric truck to the market. The new NRR EV puts the EV in “everything”.
Hino Electric Trucks
Hino Trucks is committed to delivering vehicles that provide customers a sustainable option and has expanded the range of their vehicle lineup to include electric vehicles. The Hino Me Series and Le Series will integrate SEA Electric’s SEA-Drive® power system.
Blue Bird Electric Buses
Blue Bird was first to market electric school buses in 1994. With advances in battery technology and reliable drivetrain systems, the Blue Bird Vision Electric and All American RE Electric buses continue their long-standing tradition of quality.
Micro Bird Electric Buses
Micro Bird offers a variety of alternative fuel options, including the G5 Electric School Bus. The G5 Electric offers the cleanest powertrain on the market and requires significantly lower maintenance than gasoline models, putting an end to oil changes and engine maintenance.
IC Electric Buses
IC Bus is charging ahead with an electrified version of their flagship CE school bus. The Electric CE Series model is a zero-emission electric school bus option, lowering the total cost of ownership and offering user-friendly options and features.
Collins Electric Buses
Collins offers electric bus layout options for every school district. The Type A All-Electric School Bus offers up to 85% in operating and maintenance savings and utilizes commercially proven battery packs validated through millions of real-world miles.
State of the Electric Trucking Industry
The power sources and technologies that fuel America’s trucking industry are rapidly evolving. We talked to Rush Enterprises’ Director of EV Development to get his take on the current state of the electric trucking industry and the options available for truck and fleet owners on The Long Haul blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Lithium iron phosphate (FLP) batteries, a type of lithium-ion battery, are the most common type of battery used in battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The electric buses on the market typically use a different type of lithium-ion battery called nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), a reference to the materials used in the battery’s cathode.
Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight and energy efficient, with a high power-to-weight ratio. They also carry a lot of energy for their weight, allowing trucks and buses to travel longer distances on a single charge. While NMC batteries have a higher energy capacity, FLP batteries can withstand higher temperatures and have a longer life cycle.
As innovations are made within the electric trucking industry, expect to see different battery chemistries and configurations aiming to decrease the weight of trucks, bring additional vehicle range and increase battery life.
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The public charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the United States is currently extremely limited, and these trucks are most commonly charged at their home base. However, investments are being made in increasing the accessibility of public charging stations where they’re needed across the U.S., such as at truck stops, loading bays and service workshops.
Rush Truck Centers is committed to helping our customers navigate the process of installing their own charging stations for their electric fleets, from recommending infrastructure partners to understanding energy needs and working with local utility companies to ensure you have adequate power.
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Charging time will vary greatly depending on the size of the vehicle and battery capacity. However, smaller alternating current (AC) chargers that can accommodate Class 2–6 trucks and buses can typically generate a full charge in around 7–10 hours. Direct current (DC) charging stations can take a truck or bus battery from empty to full in as little as 2–3 hours.
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The range of electric vehicles depends on the capacity of the battery they’re equipped with, meaning the greater the energy storage capacity, the farther a driver will be able to travel on a single charge. While the average diesel-powered heavy-duty truck can travel anywhere from 1,500–2,000 miles before needing to refuel, current electric-powered trucks only have a range of 100–350 miles.
Type C electric school buses currently have ranges as high as 210 miles, while all Type A, C and D buses on the market can travel over 100 miles before needing to recharge — enough to cover most bus routes.
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Pending regulations are a key purchase factor for many looking to invest in electric vehicles, particularly in states that have adopted either the California Air Resources Board’s Heavy-Duty Low NOx (oxides of nitrogen) Omnibus or Advanced Clean Truck/Advanced Clean Fleets regulations. These regulations are going to do many things, from driving increased complexity into internal combustion to mandating zero-emission vehicle sales by manufacturers and purchases by fleets.
Rush Truck Centers is committed to helping our customers understand how to navigate how they will be affected, what the complex regulations truly mean for their business and how their businesses are going to need to change to remain in compliance and in operation.
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To make a cost comparison between diesel-powered vehicles and battery-electric vehicles, you have to look at the total cost of ownership (TCO). Diesel trucks have a low initial purchase price but also have the highest fuel costs. Electric trucks currently carry the highest initial purchase price, but fleets will benefit from lower running costs and the cheapest fuel costs in most cases.
n many instances, if you take a holistic look at a vehicle and the associated costs over a lifetime of use, including fuel, maintenance, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), brakes, oil changes, aftertreatment maintenance, transmission maintenance, etc., you can save a substantial amount of money with a BEV.
Rush Truck Centers will work with you to understand the TCO and how purchasing a BEV will impact your bottom line.
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There are many manufacturers that currently have all-electric trucks in production. Peterbilt is currently manufacturing its three electric offerings — Model 579EV, Model 520EV and Model 220EV — while International® Trucks currently offers the medium-duty electric MV™ Series.
Hino plans to launch zero-emissions electric trucks ranging from Class 4 to 8 by 2024, and Isuzu announced in March 2023 that its first electric truck — the Class 5 NRR EV — will be available starting in the first half of 2024.
Other manufacturers currently producing commercial electric trucks in the U.S. include Freightliner, Volvo, Kenworth, BYD and Nikola.
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There are several grant and incentive opportunities available in the United States for customers looking to invest in BEVs. The types of grants and incentives available to you are going to depend on which states/counties/cities the trucks are operating in, what units are available for replacement, and how much the trucks are used. The Rush Truck Centers grants and incentives team can help guide you through the funding process and answer any questions you may have.
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All-electric trucks and buses are currently best suited for applications that require shorter distances and predefined routes that allow drivers to return to their home base to charge the vehicle, such as school bus routes, local pickup and delivery, regional haul, drayage, refuse collection and urban construction. Heavy-duty Class 6–8 electric trucks that have longer ranges can allow goods to be transported longer distances between cities, but longer delivery routes are limited by the availability of public charging infrastructure.
Our truck experts can help you analyze all the details of your specific use case and make a recommendation on a vehicle to best fit your needs and the intended application.
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Rush Truck Centers is committed to helping our customers make the transition to electric vehicles. From simulating your fleet's electric vehicle requirements and advising on new funding opportunities to answering questions on charging, infrastructure and operational plans, Rush Truck Centers will be here every step of the way. We’re also here to help you navigate upcoming regulations and understand how purchase decisions you make now will affect future compliance.
If you’re interested in upgrading your fleet to electric-powered vehicles, our experts can help you find the right option that makes the most sense for your business applications.
