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In its latest position paper, “Integrating Heavy-Duty Vehicles in the Electricity System,” the European association smartEn impressively highlights the central role of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in the transport transition: Trucks and buses are responsible for around a quarter of CO₂ emissions from road transport in the EU – equivalent to around 6% of the Union's total greenhouse gas emissions.
To counteract this, the EU has set ambitious targets: emissions in this sector are to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and by as much as 90% by 2040. In addition, only zero-emission city buses will be allowed to be newly registered from 2030 onwards. According to forecasts, around 600,000 battery-electric trucks will be on European roads by 2030 – about half of all new registrations.
However, this ramp-up will place considerable demands on the energy infrastructure. Many countries – such as the Netherlands and Poland – are already reaching their limits when it comes to expanding grid connections. The additional power demand from e-HDVs could rise to up to 20 gigawatts across Europe – equivalent to around 5% of the maximum grid load. Intelligent, grid-friendly solutions are needed to avoid such peak loads and ensure a reliable energy supply.
One of these solutions lies in bidirectional charging - that is, the ability of electric vehicles to not only draw power, but also to feed it back into the grid. In its paper, SmartEn advocates for the rapid integration of this technology and presents concrete recommendations for action for policymakers, industry, and grid operators:
Smart and bidirectional charging makes it possible to charge trucks specifically when surplus green electricity is available, e.g., at midday from PV systems. A garbage truck, for example, drives its route in the morning and charges using solar power in the afternoon. With battery sizes ranging from 250 to 600 kWh, HDVs offer many times the storage capacity of a passenger car – ideal for using volatile renewables.
HDVs can act as mobile storage units: they absorb surplus electricity and feed it back into the grid when needed. Their predictable usage patterns make them ideal for applications such as load management or grid stabilization. The electricity market reform (EMD) creates the basis for fleets to participate in the energy market and act as system service providers in the future.
The total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric trucks is already lower than that of diesel models in many countries. Fleet operators can save even more with smart charging: studies show savings of up to €15,000 per year for a fleet of ten vehicles – simply through intelligent charging planning. Bidirectional charging also offers revenue potential through grid services.
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