The availability of a broad-scale and well-performing charging network by 2035 offers significant potential to increase the new registrations of battery electric trucks to 100%. This finding comes from a recent research project conducted by the Oeko-Institut, which aimed to evaluate the technical and economic potential of various drive technologies in road freight transport. The study revealed that the rapid and targeted rollout of a charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial vehicles is crucial for ensuring the market success of zero-emission drive technologies.
Advantages of Battery Electric Trucks
The comparison of different drive technologies in the study showed that battery electric trucks will offer advantages over trucks with power supply from overhead lines or fuel cells. This advantage holds true even when considering conservative assumptions about technical conditions such as potential ranges and available charging options. From a total cost calculation perspective, pure electric trucks are more cost-effective compared to fuel cell vehicles, mainly due to the high level of uncertainty surrounding hydrogen prices. Overhead catenary trucks, on the other hand, are limited to specific routes equipped with overhead lines, which poses a barrier to fleet electrification.
Once the truck toll imposes a surcharge of 200 euros per ton of carbon dioxide starting from December 2023, all zero-emission vehicles, including electric trucks, will offer clear cost benefits compared to conventional diesel-powered HGVs. This cost advantage, combined with the potential decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, makes electric trucks an economically and environmentally viable solution.
Reduced Final Energy Consumption
By transitioning to electric trucks in the future, the final energy consumption in road freight transport will significantly decrease. Battery electric drive technology is more operationally efficient compared to combustion engines, resulting in lower energy consumption. As projected, by 2045, the annual electricity demand to power heavy-duty commercial vehicles will amount to 110 TWh, while the entire road freight fleet currently requires 173 TWh per annum.
The Need for Expansion of Charging Infrastructure
Expanding the public charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial vehicles is a key prerequisite for the success of electric trucks. Specifically, charging hubs need to be established along motorways, accommodating both overnight and rapid charging. The needs assessment conducted by the Oeko-Institut shows that approximately 55% of a truck’s total energy demand can be charged in the depot before departure. An additional 25% can be charged overnight using public night charging systems (NCS), which can cover multi-day journeys. The remaining energy requirement should be met en route using high-power charging solutions. To support this, a network of around 2,000 Megawatt Charging System (MCS) charging points and roughly 40,000 NCS charging points along Germany’s motorway network is needed.
To realize the potential of electric trucks, planning for the substantial expansion of charging infrastructure must begin immediately. The establishment of a comprehensive and efficient charging network will be vital to meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles in the coming years. With the right investment and strategic implementation, the vision of a fully electrified road freight fleet can become a reality, benefiting both the environment and the economy.
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