Knowledge wanted to drive funding in HGV charging

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) operators are being urged to assist drive ahead the transition to battery electrical vehicles, by offering researchers with important knowledge.

The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight at Heriot-Watt University has revealed the second of three stories commissioned by Transport Scotland, and is looking for fleets to supply extra data to information the ultimate report.

The second publication used a high-quality pattern of street haulage knowledge to grasp precisely the place en-route charging stations should be constructed for Battery Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (BEVs) throughout Scotland.

It discovered that the charging infrastructure wanted for all HGVs in Scotland will comprise a minimum of 63 en-route charger areas, of which 23 are already constructed or beneath improvement – which means roughly 40 further websites are required.

Dr Dhanan Utomo, an knowledgeable in logistics simulation at Heriot-Watt University and Principal Investigator for the Transport Scotland analysis, mentioned:“ We’re using a state-of-the-art approach that combines data from real-world HGV routes with sophisticated computer simulations. This approach allows us to map in detail where future zero carbon charging and fuelling infrastructure is most urgently needed on Scotland’s road network.

“We look forward to our research progressing work to decarbonise Scotland’s road freight sector.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop mentioned: “This new report helps us to see how much further we need to go to support the transition to battery electric trucks.

“We know that substantial extra capacity is going to be required and we need HGV fleet operators to provide journey data to enable more robust investment decisions to be made.

“With more data reflecting a wider variety of HGV routes, we can map out where those additional charging sites would have the most impact.

“This is all part of the Scottish Government’s wider work on the Heavy Goods Vehicle Decarbonisation Pathway for Scotland, which is our plan to help the HGV sector transition to zero emission trucks – improving air quality and protecting the climate, while supporting sustainable economic growth.”