Image: Volvo TrucksUnder the Utopia project, Swiss energy and grid operator Repower, together with logistics companies DPD and G. Leclerc Transport, is driving the open deployment of DepotCharge to enable shared depot charging between partner firms. At the same time, the Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG is introducing ASTAG Charge, a closed network through which association members can grant each other access to their charging infrastructure.The technical and commercial foundation of both initiatives is DepotCharge, a platform operated by Evolve Energy GmbH. “DepotCharge connects site operators with available charging capacity to fleet operators who need cost-effective charging away from their own depots,” the Munich-based company explains.The new sharing platform went live in Switzerland at the beginning of the month, enabling logistics companies with charging infrastructure or fleet charging needs to register with DepotCharge. In Germany, registration has been available for some time.Evolve Energyis rolling out the Swiss launch together with the Utopia consortium comprising Repower, DPD, and G. Leclerc Transport. The project also forms part of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy’s ‘Electromobility 2030’ roadmap, meaning the initiative receives state backing as well. The move comes as Switzerland accelerates the electrification of HGV fleets faster than the rest of Europe. According to the latest ACEA statistics, the Alpine nation registered 218 new electric HGVs weighing over 16 tonnes in the first quarter of this year (+137% year-on-year), resulting in an electric share of 25% in this weight class (!), the highest level in Europe.However, ‘the newly emerging charging infrastructure often remains underutilised. At the same time, fleet operators charge at public charging stations at prices that are usually significantly higher than at depots,’ Evolve Energy points out. The new sharing platform aims to address this gap.The principle is straightforward. “DepotCharge enables companies in the heavy goods and logistics sector to share their charging points. Underutilised charging slots can be offered to other registered fleet operators. These operators enter into usage agreements with site operators, book their desired time slots, and gain access to the charging points. Access times and prices are set individually by the site operators,” the company outlines.DepotCharge handles access management, reservations, and fully automated billing.According to Evolve Energy, the manufacturer-independent platform can be integrated into existing charging infrastructure within one to two weeks without requiring hardware or software modifications on site. “The advantages are clear: higher utilisation of existing charging points, improved cost-effectiveness of investments and vehicle fleets, and greater certainty in route planning,” the Munich-based company highlights. At the same time, the platform significantly reduces the need for additional grid expansion.DepotCharge is already available in Germany, while Evolve Energy continues to expand the system into a Europe-wide platform for shared HGV depot charging. In Switzerland, however, the immediate focus of the joint Utopia project is to build a nationwide network of collaborative used depot charging sites.Cornelia Eltrich, Marketing & Communications Manager for E-Mobility at project participant Repower, commented: “Repower has been supporting the development of charging hubs for the Swiss heavy goods sector for years. To ensure these investments are economically viable, the available capacity must be utilised as effectively as possible. DepotCharge provides the commercial framework for this and offers our customers an additional revenue stream from existing infrastructure investments.”Ville Heimgartner, Senior Project & Sustainability Manager at DPD Switzerland, added: “For DPD Switzerland, the electrification of our fleet is a clear strategic priority. Critical factors are cost efficiency in charging operations and the reliability of our route planning. With DepotCharge, we gain access to charging points along our routes at significantly more favourable conditions than on the public network.”A second initiative is also launching in Switzerland. The Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG is deploying DepotCharge as the platform behind its ASTAG Charge offering for members. In this case, however, participation is limited to the association’s members. According to ASTAG, the organisation represents 3,700 members and partner organisations across Switzerland, operating a combined fleet of 30,000 commercial vehicles in goods and passenger transport.Based on the DepotCharge sharing system, ASTAG claims that site operators can achieve ‘50% additional revenue by monetising unused charging capacity’ through opening their infrastructure. For fleet operators, the association promises ‘50% cost savings compared to public charging infrastructure.’In this context, the association is calling on logistics companies and hauliers in the country to ‘become part of a growing network of ASTAG members across Switzerland to collectively shape the future of charging.’Source: Information via email, depotcharge.com (PDF), astag-charge.ch (ASTAG Charge)