Charging demand for electric trucks in Europe could reach 200 TWh in 2045

A new study prepared by Fraunhofer ISI and ICCT provides important data on the charging demand of electric trucks in Europe. According to these data, heavy vehicle electrification is preparing to create a serious burden on energy networks.

With the spread of electric vehicles, the energy needs of the logistics industry will increase exponentially in the next twenty years. The results of the research clearly reveal that the energy infrastructure must adapt to this change.

According to the research, the annual charging electricity need of electric trucks in Europe will reach approximately 100 TWh in 2035. By 2045, this figure is expected to increase to 200 TWh.

Most of the demand will be concentrated in certain logistics centers and main transportation routes. This situation necessitates increasing the capacity of electricity networks in these regions.

Germany, France, England, Spain and Italy are among the countries where demand will be highest due to their intensity in freight transportation. When other electrification scenarios are examined, it is seen that the estimates for 2045 vary between 70 TWh and over 200 TWh.

Another striking finding of the research is about where the charging operations will take place. More than 70 to 80 percent of the total charging needs of electric trucks will be met by depot charging in most countries.

For this reason, logistics facilities where vehicles are parked and loaded and unloaded will form the basis of the charging infrastructure. However, public charging stations will continue to maintain their importance in long-distance transportation.

It is stated that, especially in some small countries where transit passages are intense, the share of public charging in total demand can reach 30 to 50 percent. The geographically uneven distribution of this demand will create a high energy need in the main freight transportation corridors.

In major transportation markets, it is anticipated that instantaneous electricity demand of 20 to 50 MW may occur in some regions. This situation requires energy management systems to become more efficient.

Germany is one of the countries most ready for this great demand. The country plans to install thousands of fast charging points at highway rest stops by 2035.

The state-supported network is aimed to reach approximately 1,800 MCS and 2,400 CCS charging points. Expansion of these stations in the future is also among the plans, depending on the increase in demand.

Private companies have also directed their investments to the main transportation corridors. It is aimed to expand megawatt level charging systems on these routes.

Milence, a joint venture of Daimler Truck, Traton and Volvo Group, operates approximately 40 charging parks in Europe. The company aims to increase this number to 70 by the end of 2027.

Milence also uses stationary battery storage systems to support high charging powers at some sites. These technological solutions help balance the load on the grid.

These infrastructure works across Europe will directly affect the electrification process of the logistics industry.