Comment by Polly Osborne, Power Systems Consultant at Energy Systems Catapult

The transition to electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) will only succeed if we work together. There’s the electric truck manufacturers. The fleet operators. And the companies building the charging infrastructure and the connections to the networks. We got everyone in a room together for a day of workshopping to explore how we can collectively smooth the transition.

Here are five things we discovered during the day.

1. We need data to orchestrate network planning

As part of the eFREIGHT 2030 project, which is driving the deployment of eHGVs, Energy Systems Catapult has been carrying out scenario modelling of the national transition to decarbonised freight.

We shared these insights during the day, highlighting how this data can support the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and distribution network companies in capacity forecasting and network planning.

Currently the grid is constrained in many locations. Figure 1 which shows HGV depot density on the left, and primary substation constraints on the right. It’s currently a postcode lottery. Some depots won’t have a problem connecting a few megawatts at the start of their electrification journey (substations shown in green), whereas a significant proportion of substations currently have less than 5 MW of capacity available (shown in amber) and some even have less than 1 MW of headroom (shown in red). This means depots in those areas may have long waits for connections whilst the local network is upgraded.

But updates to regulation mean that electricity networks can now invest ahead of need. This means that if these modelling analysis and insights are used effectively – and paired with local stakeholder engagement – they can increase the likelihood that when fleet operators install high-capacity chargers in the future, the necessary grid capacity is already in place. This proactive approach will prevent delays and keep the transition on track.

2. Smaller fleet operators are a large part of the puzzle

The majority of the fleet operators currently pioneering eHGVs are large operators. However, there are thousands of small operators who add up to a large portion of the freight sector in the UK, and we need to include them in the journey.

These businesses are generally working on tight margins and focused on delivering the next order, so it can be hard for them to find the time or money to plan for a future transition that currently feels very distant. But the coming bans on fossil fuel HGVs will be nationwide, so SMEs need to be able to make the switch too.

Electricity network companies therefore need to engage with and factor this large group of small companies into their planning, to ensure that capacity is built in the right places.

3. Engagement opens everyone’s eyes

There was genuine surprise from the fleet operators in the room at how many different options are available to them when planning the electrification of a site. While the electricity companies were taken aback by how confusing the connection process is for those without prior experience.

Engagement events like this can help stakeholders understand each other’s journey and perspectives, so they can communicate better with each other and begin to understand how they can break down the barriers that will slow the electrification of freight.

4. Neighbours can coordinate network connections

An interesting potential for collaboration discussed during the day was the opportunity for neighbouring industrial sites to coordinate their network connection applications.

There would be hurdles to overcome on how to manage confidentiality, collaboration and legal issues for each individual consortium, but this approach could lead to more efficient connection delivery, benefitting both the site operators and the local distribution network companies.

5. Collaboratively reach the optimum solution

During the event, we explored how stakeholders can collaborate when designing site connections. There are many different design options when connecting eHGV charging depots to the electricity network, many of which may not be obvious to fleet operators applying for large connections for the first time.

To explore this, we ran a “connection surgery” workshop where teams explored different design ideas collaboratively. Participants gained valuable insight into each other’s priorities and the perspectives from different organisations, fostering mutual understanding.

For example:

• A depot operator may want minimum disruption to their operations so prefer the charger located nearest to the site boundary.
• A distribution network operator (DNO) may identify that a ramped connection could match the growth of the site’s need whilst network reinforcement is completed.
• A developer may see an opportunity for installing battery storage on the site to reduce the grid connection size.

When each party shares their opportunities, needs and the areas they can compromise on, they can work together to find the best solution.

The transition to decarbonised freight involves both big-picture strategy and nuanced site-level decisions. It’s complex – but it’s also full of opportunity. Our event showed that when stakeholders see the transition through each other’s eyes, they can begin to identify solutions that deliver mutual benefits.

Decarbonising freight is a people project. By continuing these conversations and building strong partnerships, we can create a freight system that works for everyone.

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