E-trucks and truck charging: development, status quo, and prospects

E-Truck charging

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Electric mobility in heavy-duty transport is steadily gaining momentum across Europe. Electric trucks (e-trucks) are no longer a vision of the future – they are already being deployed in fleets, while the charging infrastructure continues to expand at the same time. A look at the development shows how it all began, where we stand today, and where the journey is heading.

The Beginnings: First E-Trucks and their Charging Infrastructure

The first steps toward market-ready e-trucks were taken around 2018. At that time, Mercedes-Benz launched pilot projects with the eActros in customer fleets, including Hermes in Germany. Series production followed in 2021. Volvo was also among the pioneers: the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric entered the roads in 2019 in selected markets such as Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. Initial deployments were primarily in urban distribution transport and municipal tasks – for example, as waste collection trucks in Gothenburg.

However, the charging infrastructure for trucks was still in its infancy. According to reports by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), around 144,000 charging points were available across the EU in 2019 – most of them AC charging stations with less than 22 kW. For heavy-duty vehicles, charging at such power levels took far too long, making these stations impractical for everyday use. While the number of charging points increased to nearly 200,000 by 2020, only around 28,500 of them supported faster charging above 22 kW. High-power charging points with 150 to 300 kW suitable for trucks were extremely rare. As a result, most e-trucks were charged exclusively at their own depots and used only for short distances. The use of e-trucks for long distances was unthinkable at the time.

Status Quo: Where do E-Trucks and Charging Infrastructure stand today?

Today, the electric truck fleet in Europe has grown significantly. According to ACEA, around 14,000 e-trucks (based on vehicles ≥ 16 tons) are currently in operation on European roads. This is partly due to technological progress: an increasing number of e-truck models are entering the market, offering greater ranges and improved performance. This makes e-trucks not only more flexible, but also suitable for everyday operations. Representatives of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the NOW GmbH state that ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers could be achievable by 2030 – positioning e-trucks as a key pillar of lower-emission freight transport.

The charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles has developed in parallel. According to McKinsey, there are currently around 10,000 public and private HDV-suitable (heavy-duty vehicle) charging points. Leading countries in Europe include Sweden (351 charging points), Germany (178), the Netherlands (165), France (98), and Norway (50). The first high-power charging hubs – such as those from Milence in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany – already enable trucks to charge up to 80% of their battery capacity in a short time. This allows e-trucks to recharge the energy needed for onward journeys within the legally mandated driver break times.

Another major technological milestone is also being tackled already: the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). First MCS charging stations have already been put into operation, enabling charging times of around 30-45 minutes for long-haul trucks. By comparison, today’s widely used CCS chargers can take up to two hours to recharge heavy-duty vehicles – making MCS a significant step forward in operational efficiency.

Looking Ahead: Forecasts to 2030

Demand for e-trucks is expected to continue rising in the coming years. Milence anticipates around 183,000 heavy-duty e-trucks in operation by 2030 in the 14 countries included in their white paper. According to McKinsey, usage scenarios can be broken down as follows: around 50% for single-day routes (urban distribution and municipal services), 40% for daily hub-to-hub transport (250-800 km per day), and 5% for multi-day long-haul transport – this last segment being particularly dependent on reliable charging infrastructure along key routes.

To fully unlock the potential of e-trucks, charging infrastructure development must keep pace. McKinsey forecasts around 12,000 public fast-charging points and 4,000 public overnight charging points by 2030. In total, more than 300,000 charging points – both public and at depots – would be needed to supply the expected e-truck fleet. Daimler Truck estimates a need for 35,000 fast-charging points, while ACEA even assumes up to 50,000 public charging points needed to serve the EU’s N3 truck fleet. The discrepancy between the estimates highlights both the uncertainty involved and the sheer scale of the challenge. Even the most conservative scenario requires rapid and coordinated expansion – without it, achieving climate targets and ensuring the economic viability of e-trucks will be very difficult.

A new charging plug is expected to help address these challenges. According to a study by Fraunhofer ISI and Amazon, just 1,000 MCS-enabled charging hubs could be enough to cover 91% of expected long-haul truck traffic. However, it is important to note that MCS charging stations also require MCS-compatible vehicles – a technology, that only a limited number of trucks are equipped with today. As a result, the continued rollout of fast-charging stations using the widely established CCS plug remains essential to support the long-term and sustainable electrification of heavy-duty transport.

The expansion is also being pushed forward politically. One of the requirements of the EU AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) states, that at least one 350 kW DC charging station must be installed every 60 km along the TEN-T core network (Trans-European Transport Network) by the end of 2025. This is intended to support the EU’s ambitious CO₂ reduction targets for heavy-duty transport: compared to 2019 levels, emissions are to be reduced by 45% by 2030, 65% by 2035, and 90% by 2040.

Conclusion: The future is electric

From the first pilot projects in 2018 to today, electric mobility in heavy-duty transport has developed at remarkable speed. E-trucks are market-ready, charging capacities are increasing, and infrastructure is expanding across Europe. The coming years will be decisive in determining whether the EU’s ambitious CO₂ targets can be achieved. One thing is certain: those who invest in electric mobility and intelligent charging solutions at an early stage will gain not only environmental benefits, but also a competitive economic advantage in the growing market for more sustainable freight transport.

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