Electric Trucks Transition in Europe– Where are We?

In an era marked by transformative shifts towards sustainability and innovation, the world of road freight is undergoing a monumental transformation of its own. The rumble of diesel engines is expected to slowly make way for the quiet hum of electric motors as electric trucks steadily gain traction in the transportation industry. However, while the promise of cleaner, greener freight transportation is undeniably attractive, the road leading there is paved with challenges, particularly regarding infrastructure.

Nevertheless, infrastructure in Europe, though still under development, is rapidly growing.

As of September 2023, there are several public charging stations in Europe, and their number will grow to over 3600 by 2030. The European Union is committed to supporting the development of charging infrastructure for electric trucks. in 2021, the EU adopted legislation that requires member states to provide at least 3600 kW of truck charging capacity every 60 km along the EU’s primary motorways by 2030. On secondary motorways, at least 1500 kW of truck charging capacity will need to be available every 100 km.

Many factors are driving investments in charging infrastructure for electric trucks. Of course, the rising cost of diesel fuel is a strong incentive. Likewise strong is the increasing pressure to reduce emissions from the road freight sector. One more good reason is the growing availability of more advanced electric trucks on the market.

Electric trucks face several challenges in their adoption. One significant difficulty is the cost disparity with diesel trucks, although this gap is gradually closing. The expense of setting up charging stations for these trucks is another obstacle, as they require robust infrastructure and equipment. Electric trucks currently have a limited range compared to their diesel counterparts. Factors like truck size, battery type, and driving conditions influence their distance capabilities. Charging time is yet another concern. Electric trucks, equipped with larger batteries than electric cars, can take hours to charge. However, promising advancements in high-power charging stations and rapid-charging battery technologies offer hope for overcoming these challenges. Potentially, they will accelerate the transition in the near future.

Despite these challenges, the outlook for electric trucks in Europe is positive. The European Union supports the development of these vehicles, and the charging infrastructure is growing.

Emons Cargo 2WIN has recently conducted a very successful test. An electric truck shipped a full load cargo with one of our 2WIN double-deck trailers. Such a success undoubtedly demonstrates the concrete possibility of using these tractor units for long hauls as well as for short-distance deliveries. Read about the test here.

Always at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, Emons Cargo 2WIN has ambitious investment plans for expanding its electric truck fleet in 2024. As the charging infrastructure continues to develop and the cost of electric trucks comes down, it is reasonable to expect that more and more businesses will switch to electric trucks and join our company in the effort to reduce CO2 emissions and make logistics more sustainable.