PGE gets it: electric semi trucks provide HEAVY DUTY backup for the grid [video]

Oregon utility Portland General Electric (“PGE”) is highlighting the environmental, health, and grid benefits to electrifying medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks, calling the battery-backed big rigs “batteries on wheels.”

Earlier this month, Oregon hosted its first, fleet-focused electric ride-and-drive event, bringing everything from Class 8 electric semi trucks and medium-duty “last mile” delivery trucks to battery-powered equipment assets like wheel loaders and excavators together in one place so the state’s fleet operators (and fleet buyers) could experience the latest generation of commercial EVs for themselves.

More importantly, Portland utility PGE was also on-hand, along with local NBC News affiliate KGW8, to address one of the most prevalent myths spread by EV detractors: the one that says EVs can overload the energy grid…