Impact of Heavy Commercial Electric Vehicles on Flexible Pavements

Jayme, Angeli; Hernandez, Jaime; Al-Qadi, Imad; Cardenas, Johann; Hafeez, Murryam; Villamil, William

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128391 Copy

Description

Title

Impact of Heavy Commercial Electric Vehicles on Flexible Pavements

Author(s)

• Jayme, Angeli
• Hernandez, Jaime
• Al-Qadi, Imad
• Cardenas, Johann
• Hafeez, Murryam
• Villamil, William

Issue Date

2025-05

Keyword(s)

• Electric Truck
• Pavement Distress
• Acceleration
• Finite Element
• Asphalt Pavement
• Pavement Design
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Date of Ingest

2025-05-16T11:41:58-05:00

Abstract

Heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEV) pose challenges to flexible pavements. This study evaluated four Illinois pavement structures to quantify HDEV impacts on pavements. Compounding factors included increases in load and acceleration, which escalated critical strains and reduced repetitions to failure. Various distresses were considered: bottom-up cracking, shear-driven top-down cracking, and shear-driven shoving. A proposed framework is presented, which includes a new metric—e-truck adjustment factor—that enables a full truck comparison of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICs) with HDEVs. The driving factor for HDEV’s effect was the additional shear strain in the pavement structure. For pavements with relatively thin hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layers (e.g., low volume and typical thick), the increased load impact was prominent. In addition, the impact adversely affected the subgrade and base layer with higher induced structural rutting. Pavement sections with either a relatively thick HMA layer (e.g., full depth) or supported by a high-modulus layer (e.g., stone matrix asphalt [SMA] overlay on Portland cement concrete) were impacted by the increasing acceleration. In that case, the horizontal shear strain near the surface aligned with the increased longitudinal contact stresses. Hence, determining HDEVs’ impact on pavement should consider battery placement and acceleration increase as well as pavement’s structural configuration, which define governing distresses. Full-depth and SMA-overlay sections displayed an increase in near-surface shearing, which may increase maintenance and rehabilitation frequency or warrant the use of shear-resistant materials. The environmental and economic impacts of the scenarios considered were assessed. HDEVs may reduce use-stage costs due to vehicle design efficiency but may escalate pavement maintenance expenses. In addition, the impact of reduced truckload capacity of HDEVs compared to ICs may warrant additional trips to transport the same amount of freight.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Has Part

ISSN: 0197-9191

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-25-003

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

technical report

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/25-003

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-252

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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