#ACEATRUCKTALKS – Charging the fleet: The role of depot charging in HDV electrification

Depot charging is a cornerstone of Europe's heavy-duty vehicle electrification. All commercial transport operators will depend on it to some extent, while many use cases will also require a dense network of publicly accessible charging stations tailored to trucks and buses.

Depot charging is a cornerstone of Europe's heavy-duty vehicle electrification. All commercial transport operators will depend on it to some extent, while many use cases will also require a dense network of publicly accessible charging stations tailored to trucks and buses.

In the latest edition of #ACEATruckTalks, experts shared their insights on the technical, operational, and business challenges - as well as the solutions - for scaling up depot charging.

Jörg Friedrichs (Team Lead Charging & Facility Decarbonization, DHL) offered first-hand experience from deploying more than 4,000 charging points. He outlined the financial and operational hurdles of a subcontractor-heavy fleet, from grid limitations and rising electricity demand to convincing partners to invest in higher-cost electric trucks.

Torben Bendorf (Head of Growth, Shell Business Recharge Solutions) presented Shell's perspective, highlighting five key lessons: choosing robust hardware, ensuring predictive maintenance, designing scalable systems, integrating storage and microgrids, and creating business models that open depots to subcontractors or semi-public charging.

The discussion, moderated by Thomas Fabian (Chief Commercial Vehicles Officer, ACEA), underlined that economics are at the core of the transition in commercial road transport. Without viable business models - supported by a coherent and enabling policy framework - that bring the total cost of ownership of zero-emission trucks and buses in line with diesel alternatives, widespread electrification will not materialise.

Depot charging stands out as both a pressing technical challenge and a business opportunity. Tackling issues such as grid access, investment incentives, and operational integration will be decisive for transport operators. At the same time, close collaboration between manufacturers, energy providers, and policymakers is key to unlock scalable solutions. Addressing these challenges swiftly is essential to accelerate Europe's shift towards decarbonising heavy-duty road transport.