As we have said many times, we are working on launching test lines of electric trucks. The biggest obstacle to their development is not technology, but available infrastructure.
Our goal is to launch test connections between logistic nodes in the regions: Warsaw – Berlin (600 km), Stuttgart-Berlin (650 km), Stuttgart – Zurich (250 km) and Stuttgart – Innsbruck (350 km). The task sounds ambitious… and it is. What problems are we facing?
HOW ELECTRIC TRUCKS CHARGED
In the case of cars with a diesel combustion engine, route planning is relatively simple. We take the fastest route from point A to point B, and along the way we will have no problem finding a gas station where we can fill the tank in just a few minutes. It’s done.
For an electric truck, it’s a bit more complicated. Charging a car battery takes significantly longer. How much longer? It depends on whether we have a cheaper AC charger or a more expensive but faster DC charger. In the first case, it is best to use the overnight stay for charging. In the second case, the driver’s lunch break is enough.
For electric trucks to become popular on long routes, we need a coherent network of fast DC chargers. And important – we are not talking about one charger halfway between two European capitals, but about stations with several stations. There’s nothing even about a fast charger when there are several cars waiting in line for it.
CONSTRUCTING A CHARGING STATION IS NOT EASY
For electric trucks to become popular, we first need to build a sensible network of charging stations? Of course yes. However, it turns out that building the station itself is the icing on the cake. To launch it, the energy infrastructure must first be adapted. And this is where the stairs begin.
The European Federation of Transport and Environment conducted a survey among distribution network operators in five EU Member States. The answers obtained clearly show that investments in energy transmission and distribution networks are necessary everywhere. Without them, there is no way to build a coherent network of fast charging stations in the near future. And without them, we can only dream of the popularization of electric trucks.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
The key to the development of the charging station network is to create realistic plans for the development of the charging station network depending on the growing demand. Such documents are already being prepared in some Member States (e.g. Germany) and should be the basis for subsequent modification of the energy infrastructure.
If we don’t do this and instead of thinking ahead, we focus on meeting the current demand for charging stations, we will suffer from a constant shortage. The modification of the energy infrastructure is ongoing, and without it we have no chance of entering the race for the green transformation of the transport industry.
Do you want to be part of the change in the European transport industry? See what the LogisTech Green Investments Project is and check how to join us!
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