Pssst! Wanna See A Driverless Electric Truck?

This is news about trucking, not home energy upgrades, but here's what's happening. Two driverless electric trucks built by the company Einride are now hauling freight daily between warehouses in Marysville, Ohio, run by a startup called EASE Logistics. These are "Level 4" autonomous trucks, meaning they drive themselves without a cab or driver on board, and they've been gathering real-world mileage data since last month. The project is part of a larger effort called the Truck Automation Corridor, a multi-year collaboration between Ohio and Indiana transportation agencies testing different levels of truck automation along a 166-mile freight route between Columbus and Indianapolis. That testing is set to wrap up in January, with the data shared afterward.

Separately, Tesla has started installing its "Megacharger" fast-charging stations for its electric Semi truck at Pilot travel centers around the country, another sign that heavy-duty electric trucking is expanding into everyday infrastructure. There's also discussion of rooftop solar panels on both diesel and electric trucks, which can extend battery life for a truck's cab electronics and air conditioning without idling the engine.

None of this involves home rebates or upgrades. It's a look at how freight trucking is shifting toward electric power and automation, which may eventually affect fuel costs and highway traffic, but doesn't change anything about home energy programs or what a homeowner needs to do.