[NEWS] BSC: e-mobility and freight transports (pt.1)

The following article addresses the problematic of electrification of heavy duty vehicles. The content was prepared by electro company, providing services for energy generation from renewable energy sources (Elektro Ljubljana RES, Ltd) and supported by BSC, Ltd, Kranj (RDA of Gorenjska), for the preparation of the training material for public authorities, in the scope of e-SMART project. The challenge is much more demanding, than for electrification of passenger cars and at the moment we are still way from the ideal solutions.

Slovenian national energy climate plan is tackling also transportation problematic and its contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions. In Slovenia, major share of greenhouse gases from transport are personal cars, but due to transit location and much larger consumption per 100 km and over 36.000 liters of diesel per year, heavy duty vehicles need to stay in the center of interest. And so, National energy climate plan considers also transition of HDV to change to alternative fuels, such as electricity, hydrogen and others. National goals are therefore, that by the 2030, 37% of all vehicles will run on alternative fuels and over 1200 of them will be heavy duty freight vehicles.

Also EU commission has ambitious plans regarding transition to alternative fuels also for heavy duty freight vehicles. Proposal of a Regulation from July 2021 defines minimum requirements for setting up recharging infrastructure for electric HDV, at every urban node on TEN-T corridors from respectively 2025 to 2030. Similar is defined for hydrogen and other alternative fuels. This is important, since freight transport is projected to increase by 33% by 2030 and by 55% by 2050.

Electrification of freight heavy duty vehicles in not a straight forward problem, beside technical aspect, there are many other open issues connected with economy, profitability of the industry, competitiveness etc. This is also very clear, when we see number of electrified HDV in countries taking part in e-SMART project (Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, France).

Source: EAFO

Diagram below shows range and capacity of different kinds of trucks and special vehicles. It is evident, that energy consumption is much higher than by regular passenger cars. This means, that for normal use of electric heavy duty vehicles, much higher power of recharging stations is needed and much bigger energy storage on board.

Source: Volvo

Higher charging power requires new solutions in charging technology. Conventional cables and plugs are limited in this respect. Therefore new solutions are being tested and introduced, like overhead and wireless. In perspective, charging powers up to 1 MW are needed and expected.

Other open question now is also location of charging. That has essential influence on needed range of the vehicles, size and cost of batteries, time of charging and consequentially economy of the freight transport. Different charging locations are optimal for different cases. Sooner or later, all of them will be needed, if electrification of freight transport will be developed. But main question for now is where to start?