An analysis conducted by the German Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, on behalf of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), is to help governments and infrastructure operators prioritise where to start installing charging points for electric trucks.
“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,” explained Martin Lundstedt, Chairperson of ACEA’s Commercial Vehicle Board and CEO of Volvo Group.
As hauliers make a switch to electric vehicles, it is presumed unlikely that they will change their driving behaviour. The aim of the ACEA study is therefore to map out exactly where drivers make their stops today, and which of these lorry parks are most frequently used.
Fraunhofer ISI analysed the GPS coordinates of some 400,000 HGVs in operation throughout Europe over a period of 12 months, focusing on the duration of stops at individual locations. The analysis found that 10% of the locations most frequented by trucks in Europe (over 3,000) account for some 50% (78,000) of total stops that trucks make.
With this in mind, ACEA is calling on national governments to ensure that the top 10% of truck stop locations within their countries are equipped with suitable electric chargers by 2027 at the latest.
The precise locations of all truck stops in 29 European countries are shown on five regional maps: central Europe, northern Europe, south-eastern Europe, southern Europe and western Europe.
The maps also distinguish the different stopping times of HGVs – so-called short stops (under an hour) and long stops (overnight parking).
This is important as the duration determines the charging needs, such as the time available for a full recharge and the required power output. The maps also identify exactly where the most used truck stops are found (mainly in rest areas along motorways, company sites, logistic hubs and ports).
Image credits @ ACEA