HDV charging manual

A new T&E briefing compares the projected energy demand for HDV public charging and estimates the amount and the distribution of infrastructure necessary per country.

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Building on that analysis, T&E recommends EU member state to take the following into account when planning their HDV charging infrastructure:

1. Adapt AFIR targets to real-world demand:

Align national deployment plans with real-world traffic data and projected battery electric fleet sizes. This includes adjusting the power output and spacing of charging hubs to better match actual HDV traffic volumes and thus charging needs.

2. Forward looking grid capacity and planning:

• Make proactive grid planning a priority to support the anticipated surge in adoption of battery electric vehicles. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) should ensure that Transmission and Distribution System Operators (TSOs and DSOs) expand their capacities in anticipation rather than in reaction to demand.

• Streamline and harmonise administrative processes for grid connections, facilitating quicker setup of charging infrastructure. This includes setting clear timelines for connection requests, making capacity maps easily available to prospective charging providers and providing transparency throughout the process.

3. Economically efficient use of public funds:

• Deploy public funding in a non-market distorting manner to bridge the gap at initially unprofitable locations to ensure timely and comprehensive network coverage. The implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive’s (RED III) crediting mechanism should be fast-tracked to support early-stage charging infrastructure until a sustainable market-driven model is viable.

• Consider smart tendering strategies that bundle high and low utilisation locations to avoid creating operational subsidies dependencies and to prevent monopolistic control over charging networks.

4. Stakeholder engagement and collaborative planning

Set up a continuous engagement process involving all relevant stakeholders including vehicle manufacturers, Charge Point Operators (CPOs), grid operators, and public authorities. This approach will facilitate the sharing of critical information and ensure that infrastructure development is responsive to the specific needs and capabilities of each region.

5. Market-led infrastructure deployment:

While initial public support is necessary, the long-term goal should be to transition to a market-led deployment strategy. This ensures that the infrastructure development is sustainable and capable of adapting to evolving market conditions without continuous public financial support.

Download the briefing to find out more.

Correction: Page 6 of the report has been edited to reflect that the resulting total annual energy demand - not public energy demand - is 28.18 TWh.