Heavy-duty long-haul trucks (>15 tons) represent less than 15% of the truck fleet but is responsible for about 65% of the CO2 emissions in the trucking sector in Germany. Battery electric trucks are one of the major options to decarbonise this sector.

The Lower Rhine region in Germany is part of the logistic heart of Europe. About 10% of all German trucks are registered here. Transport volumes are expected to further grow. The transition to e-mobility offers new opportunities for the logistic companies but also represents major challenges, in particular, what concerns implementation of an adequate charging infrastructure. Among others, these challenges are related to:

Availability of connection capacity in the distribution networks and coordinated planning of connection extensions over the transition period covering about a decade;

Availability of sites for depot charging;

Financing and mitigation of financial risks related to charging infrastructure investments;

Long periods for infrastructure planning and permitting;

Adequacy and stability of the regulative framework related to network connection and charging operations.

Motivated to support the industry, the ‘Logistikregion Rheinland’ contracted a study addressing these challenges.

In a scenario study we derived spatially resolved projections for the required charging capacity in the region up to 2045. The analysis showed that the transition still has to take off but the major change might happen in the relatively short period up to 2035. Charging demand in the logistics sector in the Lower Rhine region may grow to 5.6 TWh in 2035 and 8.8 TWh in 2045. Due to their long daily ranges and high specific energy consumption, tractor-trailer combinations account for about two third of this energy demand.

In parallel we set up an extensive stakeholder assessment. Together with experts from different involved industries and authorities, we analysed existing barriers companies are experiencing when attempting to implement the required charging infrastructure. The result of numerous explorative expert interviews highlighted uncertainties, lack of knowledge and the need for communication and coordination between different industries and authorities.

We concluded that, so far, charging connections in most cases can be supplied, based on higher utilisation of existing assets. In parallel networks are steadily reinforced and extended. However, looking at the steep growth of the required capacity in the coming years, charging infrastructure might become a bottleneck for the successful development of the logistics sector in the years between 2030 and 2035. The assessment identified pragmatic options for addressing these bottlenecks and allocated them to the stakeholders being in a position to tackle them.

The paper and presentation will summarise these findings and highlight key success factors for the coming decade. With the Lower Rhine region in mind we will translate the key insights and recommendations to an industry wide view.