Depot charging of e-trucks needs better framework conditions

Charging battery-electric trucks in logistics depots – known as depot charging – is a key lever for decarbonising road freight transport. This is shown by a new study conducted by Oeko-Institut and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI on behalf of the environmental organisation Transport & Environment (T&E). The study was conducted in Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom and is based on literature research, four country workshops with over 80 participants and interviews with experts.

Depot charging covers most of the mileage

In all the countries surveyed, around 40 to 50 percent of heavy trucks drive less than 300 kilometers a day. These distances can easily be covered with battery-electric trucks and night-time charging at the truck depot. Many fleets with higher mileages can also manage multi-shift operation with depot charging and the corresponding charging infrastructure. The development of charging infrastructure in depots is therefore a crucial requirement for the electrification of truck fleets.

Large companies as drivers, small ones need support

Large logistics companies play a central role in the market ramp-up of electromobility in road freight transport as they generally have their own depots and are better able to cushion investment risks. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dominate the transport sector in numerical terms – 70 to 80 percent of logistics companies in the countries surveyed have five or fewer trucks. Their business has lower margins, uncertain contractual situations and often a lack of access to depots.

The study therefore recommends funding programmes with simple application procedures and practical information services specifically for SMEs.

Grid connection is the bottleneck in infrastructure development

A key obstacle to the development of depot charging infrastructure is insufficient and difficult-to-access information on available grid connection capacity - particularly in Germany. While Spain, France and the UK already provide public data on network capacity, reliable information is still lacking in Germany. In addition, there are long waiting times for grid connection, which according to the study can sometimes take several years.

The project experts are therefore calling for a significant improvement in the transparency of available network capacities and for the corresponding data to be made publicly available. In addition, the procedures for connecting to the grid must be simplified and accelerated. Another important step is regional coordination between logistics providers, grid operators and the public sector. This should enable grid bottlenecks to be identified at an early stage, joint solutions to be found and, for example, expansion requirements for grid connection capacities to be coordinated between companies.

Recommendations of the study

In order to determine the potential of depot charging, better data is needed on the availability and preconditions of depot locations, such as grid connections and space restrictions. The legal and economic framework conditions must also be adapted to enable various forms of depot charging - from company-owned to semi-private and semi-public charging points. The conditions should be created for larger companies to make their charging infrastructure accessible to smaller partners.

At the same time, targeted support is needed for small and medium-sized enterprises, for example through financial support programmes for connecting to the electricity grid, practical advice and easily accessible information services. It is also crucial for the success of depot charging that planners are able to identify where network capacity is available at an early stage – which is why up-to-date information on grid availability should be made publicly available.

Finally, the study recommends better coordination of grid expansion and standardised communication between logistics, grid operators and authorities, e.g. through regional workshops/communication and digital procedures.

'Truck depot charging' study by Oeko-Institut and Fraunhofer ISI