The main obstacle to the widespread adoption of electric trucks is their limited range. Although it is sufficient for most urban routes, trucking companies are concerned about limitations over longer distances. The key to solving this problem is the development of a reliable charging infrastructure.
In practice, the charging of electric trucks is most often done by means of direct current (DC) fast chargers. This charger is connected to the electric grid or an alternative power source. The efficiency of charging depends on factors such as travel distance, battery capacity, and charging scenarios.
There are 3 main charging scenarios:
Overnight charging is the most common charging scenario. Fleet owners can charge their vehicles overnight using low-power DC chargers (50-100 kW). During this time, 6-8 hours are usually available to fully charge the vehicles. In addition, dedicated truck charging management software can help reduce energy costs with features such as peak limiting and load balancing.
Destination charging is necessary for vehicles whose range is less than the daily distance traveled. Destination charging can take place at logistics centers or warehouses. These charging sessions, which last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, use 150 to 400 kW of power to charge e-trucks during loading and unloading.
On-the-move charging will be needed along urban junctions and highways for long-distance truck routes covering large distances daily. In order to make effective use of mandatory driver breaks of 30 to 45 minutes regulated by the EU, larger capacities of up to 1.2 MW will be needed to charge vehicles over time.
Poland, as a European leader in road freight transport, is facing the challenge of transitioning to low-emission trucks. The electrification process can be divided into 3 key phases, reflecting the current situation, the near future and the long-term outlook.
1 - local and regional transport
Currently, the fastest development of electrification is in local and regional transportation. This stage is dominated by the electrification of rigid-body trucks. These vehicles usually benefit from overnight charging at transport bases, using 50-100 kW chargers. Their range is sufficient for daily routes. Charging at destinations such as logistics centers is also gradually developing.
2 - regional and medium-distance transport
In this phase, more and more articulated trucks are switching to electric drive. Demand for charging at logistics centers is growing, and charging management is becoming an integral part of logistics processes. Many fleets in this phase will also benefit from government subsidies. Public charging is becoming popular, with fast charging stations of more than 500 kW being built at strategic urban locations.
3 - long-distance transportation
The final step will be the complete electrification of long-distance transportation. At this stage, we can expect automated and fully integrated charging processes at distribution centers. The realization of this stage will be facilitated by large-scale government subsidies and the establishment of a network of megawatt chargers along highways. In addition, drivers will be able to use public overnight chargers in roadside parking lots
Advantages of electric trucks
The initial investment in an electric truck is higher than in an internal combustion vehicle. However, the numerous lifetime benefits (Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO) will make these costs equal in the coming years. In some countries, electric trucks have already reached a TCO comparable to internal combustion vehicles.
The initial investment in an electric truck is higher than in an internal combustion vehicle. However, the numerous lifetime benefits (Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO) will make these costs equal in the coming years. In some countries, electric trucks have already reached a TCO comparable to internal combustion vehicles.
Here are some benefits that help lower the overall cost:
Lower fuel costs
Lower maintenance expenses
Government funding
Toll exemptions
Challenges and perspectives
Electrification is an inevitable direction for trucking. This is good news for both the environment and trucking businesses in the long run.
But the industry faces a dilemma: what to focus on first: charging solutions or the electric vehicles themselves?
Without adequate charging infrastructure, it will be difficult to get more electric trucks on the road. In turn, without more electric trucks on the market, it will be difficult to convince authorities to invest in a better charging network.