Scotland’s net zero truck fleets need charging points on busy freight routes, report finds

Scotland’s truck stops, fleet depots, lorry parks and ports might help highway freight operators swap to all-electric fleets by putting in car charging factors, new analysis from Heriot-Watt College suggests.

In its report“Towards Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure in Scotland,” the College’s Heart for Sustainable Highway Freight identifies a necessity for charging factors for battery-operated electrical heavy items autos each at fleet depots and alongside main freight routes together with the A9, A90 and M74. Hydrogen vans put in with gas cells would additionally want charging factors alongside these routes.

Transport Scotland, Scotland’s nationwide transport company, commissioned the report as a part of its dedication to the HGV Decarbonization Pathway for Scotland, a plan to assist the heavy items car business in Scotland transition to zero emission vans.

Professor Phil Greening, a logistics knowledgeable at Heriot-Watt College and Director of The Heart for Sustainable Highway Freight, mentioned, “Electric trucks are already on our roads and most short haul freight deliveries can already be completed without any extra charging stops. But for all current freight routes in Scotland to be completed, charging points for electric heavy goods vehicles need to be provided both at depots and along freight routes, particularly the most heavily used ones.”

Cupboard Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop mentioned, “I am grateful to Professor Phil Greening and the group on the Heart for Sustainable Highway Freight for taking ahead this vital analysis, commissioned by the Scottish Authorities, which reveals the place funding in infrastructure to help zero-emission heavy items autos might be required.

“This signals to private charge point companies and electrical distribution network operators where focused investment can bring improvements for the areas that need it most.”

The A9 between Stirling and Inverness, the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen, and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle are “critical corridors for freight,” say the researchers, who’ve recognized “hot spot” places for electrical truck charging factors alongside these routes.

These embrace Dalwhinnie within the Scottish Highlands, Ballinluig in Perth and Kinross, Stracathro in Angus, Abington in South Lanarkshire and Annandale Water in Dumfries and Galloway.

The place doable, charging factors can be positioned at present places like truck stops, lorry parks, ports and transport hubs like container storage terminals, the report notes. Land in or subsequent to those charger places, for instance ports, would even be wanted to put in speedy chargers and supply area for HGVs to park and cost.

Electrical substations—which regulate the distribution of electrical energy—would probably want upgrades in plenty of areas to deal with elevated car charging, together with at peak intervals. “Critical” substation places embrace Milnathort in Perth and Kinross, Inchbare in Angus, Symington in South Lanarkshire, Kirkwall in Orkney and Ullapool within the Highlands.

The researchers modeled the identical routes as if all freight fleets have been operating on hydrogen, a kind of gasoline that’s used to make zero-emission gas. Though hydrogen is costlier than electrical energy saved in batteries, the pc modeling confirmed that hydrogen refueling stations can be used closely alongside the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle.

There was additionally potential for hydrogen refueling stations within the central belt, however to a lesser extent, the researchers discovered. And alongside the A9, lighter utilization is predicted, in all probability due to the place the freight fleets within the pattern information are primarily based.

Key places for hydrogen refueling stations embrace Dalwhinnie, Annandale Water, Kinross in Perth and Kinross and Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire.

Pc modeling and “advanced analytics” utilizing real-world information from 80,000 truck journeys in Scotland was used to hold out the analysis. The venture was delivered utilizing an in-house modeling and simulation suite developed by the Heart for Sustainable Highway Freight at Heriot-Watt College. The Heart is a collaboration amongst Heriot-Watt, Cambridge College, Westminster College and the freight business.

Extra journey information is required from heavy items car fleets to proceed constructing this image of freight charging wants in Scotland, and the researchers are inviting operators to supply this.

Additional investigation can also be wanted of remote areas with fewer present amenities like service stations and truck stops the place charging factors could possibly be put in. These have been recognized on the A9 north of Invergordon and in Shetland. Stakeholders within the analysis additionally recommend the A82 and A83 in Argyll and Bute, that are “important freight routes for timber, aquaculture and access to the Western Isles.”

The A77 to Cairnryan in Stranraer is one other distant space the place “potential gaps in charging infrastructure require further modeling,” the researchers say. Transport by ferry to the Scottish islands additionally must be accounted for in modeling.

The researchers hope to publish an up to date report in 2025 and say as soon as extra information turns into accessible, these conditions might be additional investigated.

The Heart for Sustainable Highway Freight mentioned the venture offered a blueprint for utilizing information to evaluate important charging and refueling places for zero-emission heavy items autos throughout Scotland.