Fraunhofer ISI has analysed the GPS coordinates of around 400,000 trucks from seven manufacturers in operation across Europe. The result is meant to help governments and infrastructure operators set priorities for the installation of charging points for electric trucks.
The aim of the study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI was to record exactly where truck drivers make their stops and which locations are most frequently used.
The study was commissioned by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The initial results were already published in June last year. Now the data set has been analysed in even greater detail.
The study shows the exact locations of all truck stops are spread over 29 European countries. However, only ten per cent of the locations most frequently visited by HGVs in Europe (over 3,000) account for about 50 per cent (78,000) of all HGV stops. The study found the most stops in Germany: 34,521 stops per day at a total of 7,452 locations. According to Fraunhofer, 746 locations in this country would still need more charging options by 2027.
Fraunhofer lists France just after Germany for the number of stops, where the analysis found 25,615 stops per day at 5,833 locations. According to Fraunhofer, charging facilities will still be needed at 584 locations in France by 2027. Third place goes to Italy with 10,688 stops per day at 3,367 locations. By 2027, the study sees a need for charging facilities at a further 337 locations.
Against this backdrop, ACEA is calling on national governments to ensure that the ten per cent of the busiest truck stops in their countries are equipped with suitable electric chargers by 2027 at the latest. “Given that charging stations that are suited to the specific needs of trucks are almost completely missing today, the challenge ahead is huge. That is why we want to help governments and industry stakeholders to direct their investments to where they are most needed,” says Martin Lundstedt, Chairman of ACEA’s Commercial Vehicle Committee and CEO of Volvo Group, in response to the research.
In March, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) published its position paper called Master Plan Charging Infrastructure 2.0 – Recommendations of the Automotive Industry. For heavy-duty traffic, the VDA calls for a German network for trucks – VDA President Hildegard Müller already vocalised this demand at the online conference from our German colleagues at electrive.net LIVE in January. In its master plan, the VDA went into a little more detail: the tenders should be similar to the passenger car charging network, but with at least 700 kW continuous power per charging point. In addition to megawatt charging in long-distance traffic, however, the use case of depot charging is also to be promoted for commercial vehicles. “A comprehensive and efficient charging infrastructure is and remains the key to the success of e-mobility – this applies to the passenger car sector as well as to commercial vehicles,” says Müller.
Reporting by Domenico Sciurti, Germany.
Keyword: Fraunhofer studies European truck charging