The white paper highlights the critical role of charging infrastructure in achieving climate-neutral goals for the sector. Germany aims for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty freight transport by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045.
According to the paper, there are currently no publicly accessible charging stations for electric lorries in Germany, despite an estimated need for 10,000 public charging points by 2030, including 4,000-megawatt fast-charging stations.
The identified hurdles to achieving this target include grid integration challenges, securing suitable locations along motorways, and budgetary constraints.
MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues, stating that „The charging infrastructure is currently the biggest pain point” for the industry’s transition to electric vehicles.
The white paper proposes several solutions, including:
- ensuring high connection rates and sufficient space at charging stations,
- early involvement of grid operators in network planning and location selection,
- establishing a central point to streamline the grid connection approval process,
- providing financial support for electric trucks and charging infrastructure to improve planning security for operators,
- continued promotion of standardization efforts across the industry.
Both MAN and Siemens are actively involved in advancing electric HGV technology. MAN expects to launch its first series-produced electric lorry with a daily range of up to 800 kilometres in 2024. They also plan to introduce an electric city bus with an extended range next year and a test fleet of electric coaches in 2025.
Siemens eMobility offers a range of charging solutions for electric vehicles, including AC and DC charging infrastructure, from 11-kilowatt options to megawatt charging systems suitable for depots and on-the-go charging.