With the conclusion of the task force: ‘Backcasting – charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial vehicles’, the BMDV, NOW and the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure have established a ‘to-do’ inventory for the development of public charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial vehicles used in long-distance transport.

The task force working groups identified 30 specific issues that require action in order to be able to provide sufficient charging infrastructure for battery-electric trucks. Planning, approval and implementation processes were discussed, but also possible critical paths and barriers to implementation.

Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, Managing Director (Chair) of NOW GmbH: “With this overview of specific tasks that are to be undertaken, the foundation is laid for the development of charging infrastructure for heavy-duty, battery-electric commercial vehicles in long-distance transport. The challenge in building up charging infrastructure for trucks are significant, but so too is the potential for decarbonizing this sector. Now launched as part of the BMDV’s overall concept on climate-friendly commercial vehicles, this process will continue to be actively driven forward by NOW through the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure.”

Involving experts from the field is key

“The rapid establishment of charging infrastructure for trucks is required in order to be able to supply the vehicles that have already been announced by manufacturers”, explains Johannes Pallasch, Spokesperson of the management team of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure. “Direct input from the field was very valuable in working out open issues. That’s why I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with the various stakeholders and establishing a demand-oriented and user-friendly charging infrastructure.”

30 specific action points in eight thematic fields

The starting point of the task force was the identification of open questions and tasks that must be addressed in the development of public charging infrastructure along motorways. These tasks were subdivided into eight thematic fields and the most important open issues were named for each. Among the key challenges are space shortage for parking and charging facilities for trucks along motorways, the development of expansion scenarios for an (initial) charging infrastructure network as well as layout examples for various types of locations, the additional electricity demand and the associated network planning, the acceleration of standardization of approval processes, a good basis for data – including reliable numbers for the market ramp-up of vehicles – for demand planning, timely standardization of charging and vehicle technology as well as ensuring a high level of reliability in terms of the availability of charging spaces and services.

A full overview of all identified action areas can be found on the website www.klimafreundliche-nutzfahrzeuge.de/task-force-backcasting.

Members and procedure of the Backcasting task force

The goal of the task force was to plan ahead for the installation of the necessary public charging infrastructure for zero-emission e-trucks in long-distance transport. To this end, several thematic priority workshops took place during the six-month task force process. In all, around 80 representatives from around 40 organisations and companies participated. The spectrum of experts ranged from the energy and vehicle sector, infrastructure providers, associations, ministries, public authorities to the scientific community. Experts from NOW and the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure managed the content.

 

Image: An enlarged interactive view is available here www.klimafreundliche-nutzfahrzeuge.de/task-force-backcasting.