From pilot projects to the roll-out of battery-electric trucks: Findings from the scientific monitoring of real-world deployment

The synthesis report of the ELV-Live research project summarises key findings from the scientific monitoring of battery-electric heavy-duty trucks in real-world operation. Over a period of three years, the project examined the transition from the technological pilot phase to industrial scaling. The analysis is based on real vehicle telematics data from more than 800 trips, case studies on fleet electrification, depot charging infrastructure and long-distance transport, as well as three large-scale survey waves among transport companies. The aim was to empirically assess the practical suitability, economic viability, infrastructure requirements and acceptance of battery-electric trucks in day-to-day logistics operations. 

The results show that battery-electric trucks can already be used reliably in many applications. The vehicles analysed achieve real-world consumption values that largely correspond to the manufacturers’ specifications. Electric trucks are technically suitable particularly for regional transport; with new ranges of 500 to 600 kilometres, national long-distance transport is also increasingly coming into focus. At the same time, the study reveals a clear “experience gap”: while many companies without their own practical experience remain sceptical about range, economic viability and driver acceptance, pioneering companies report high levels of satisfaction, technical reliability and positive feedback from drivers. 

Charging infrastructure is a central success factor for the market ramp-up. Depot charging currently forms the economic and operational anchor of electric truck use, but requires early planning, sufficient grid connection capacity and intelligent load management. For long-distance transport, a comprehensive public high-power charging network is also necessary. Economic viability depends heavily on favourable electricity prices, high vehicle utilisation and stable regulatory framework conditions such as CO₂-differentiated truck tolls. The study concludes that battery-electric trucks are establishing themselves as a key technology option for decarbonising heavy-duty road freight transport. For broad scaling, however, infrastructure expansion, knowledge transfer, digital planning tools and reliable political framework conditions will be decisive.