6 strategic recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the European electricity network for electric heavy goods vehicles

In response to this challenge, Milence has published a white paper that outlines essential power grid strategies that would support the growing electric heavy-duty truck market. This report thus demonstrates that it is possible to prepare the European electricity network of tomorrow.

Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence, describes several axes for developing a sustainable electricity infrastructure:

Transparency in the assessment of the fleet and network capacity

In many EU countries, charge point operators (CPOs) need efficient processes to assess electricity network capacity, the availability of additional energy and the costs of achieving this capacity increase . Assessing network capacity is therefore crucial to determining whether the fleet is suitable for heavy-duty charging sites.

Milence recommends putting in place tools allowing rapid access to network connection details per site, offering non-binding cost estimates, as well as deadlines for connecting new connections to the network. Access to online maps could also indicate “hot spots” that have high or excess network capacity.

Streamline the application process

When CPOs face insufficient power capacity, they need a future-proof power grid, and that requires strengthening the grid. To reduce the complexity of the current process, the application procedure needs to be improved. Therefore, to guarantee transparency and everyone's responsibility, it is necessary to put in place a clear application procedure, with a precise deadline between the initial request and the final decision.

Proactive network planning based on market data

To achieve continuous electrification objectives, all stakeholders must proactively identify future investments; especially network managers. The latter are particularly faced with time and cost constraints. Contributions from market participants – truck and certified pre-owned manufacturers, OEMs, fleet operators and others – are also essential to develop joint long-term network planning. This will ensure adequate capacity and avoid bottlenecks. Scenarios based on current market data and technological forecasts provide a basis for this planning of improvement works, expansion and other investments in the electricity network. These scenarios must align with political, industrial and climate objectives.

Redefine regulatory systems for investments

Currently, the regulatory framework does not always encourage distribution network managers to make prospective investments. Indeed, they often consider that these investments may be useless if there is no clear demand in the short term. Therefore, it is essential to review these regulatory mechanisms to facilitate public financing of these crucial investments and to encourage adequate and judicious investments favoring new connections to the networks, in order to satisfy future connection demands in a timely manner. This applies in particular to new connections within large car parks in strategic locations and charging centers planned along the corridors of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). With the support of the EU and Member States, this will help mitigate possible price increases and avoid repeated and costly works on infrastructure.

Support renewable energy sources

When charged with renewable energy, electric (battery) trucks have a big impact on decarbonization. This concerns energy coming from green electricity purchase contracts, or from local wind or solar energy production. Load centers that use stationary batteries would be able to meet the demands of logistics companies. They could also connect directly to nearby renewable energy sites, helping to accelerate production. By reducing the need for additional infrastructure construction, direct connections to nearby renewable energy sources should be facilitated. Flexibility in requirements for grid connections would enable the addition of new charging centers powered by renewable energy, improving cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency.

Shift to time- and volume-based connection rates

For large consumers, connection tariffs are based on variations in capacity demands linked to peaks of activity (kW) and this can quickly increase prices – especially compared to tariffs based on volume (kWh). Designed for efficient use of the network, this model poses a problem for truck charging centers when they have to manage the high peaks in demand generated by mandatory driver breaks. The introduction of flexible volumetric rates that vary over time would be more suitable for these consumers. Additionally, it would provide greater visibility during the early market period while providing clear pricing information to customers. This development would also promote more efficient use of energy, alleviate network saturation, and support the operation and development of high-performance charging points, in particular for heavy vehicles.