Europe's electric trucks could require approximately 100 terawatt-hours of charging power by 2035. This is the conclusion of a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation, or ICCT. The research organization assumes a moderate pace in the transition to electric heavy-duty vehicles. One terawatt-hour equals one billion kilowatt-hours.
The majority of energy should be charged at depot facilities. The study anticipates shares of more than 70 to 80 percent there. Particularly high demand is expected along major freight corridors and at large industrial areas. This supports planning charging points where vehicles are already stationed or regularly pass through.
For a fleet operator, however, this Europe-wide figure is not yet a basis for their own electricity procurement planning. For this purpose, daily kilometers, consumption per route, and available charging time are required. Two operations with the same number of vehicles can have quite different connection capacity requirements.
Companies wishing to switch to electric trucks should therefore first create a weekly plan with actual routes. This must also include peak periods, delayed returning vehicles, and reserve vehicles. Only then can it be meaningfully determined how many charging points are needed simultaneously and what capacity the grid operator should provide.