Pathway themes identified at January workshops and potential workstreams arising

Two workshops for ZETT members were held in January 2023:

  • ZETT Workshop 1 (23 January) centred on back to base use cases and depot charging/ fuelling.
  • ZETT Workshop 2 (24 January) centred on long distance use cases and en route charging/ fuelling.

Pathway themes identified

Are these the right themes to build an HGV Decarbonisation Pathway around? Is anything missing?

The following themes emerged from the workshops:

  • There is potential (for electricity DNOs, operators and RTPs) to develop a nationwide understanding of the electricity upgrades that will be needed to support charging for battery-electric HGVs. Likely to include:
    • Depot charging (including potential for electric charging infrastructure installed in one depot to be made available for use by other fleet operators, subject to all parties’ business considerations)
    • En route - high capacity charging for short driver breaks (eg along trunk roads, at existing fuelling sites)
    • En route - lower capacity layover charging for longer driver breaks (eg driver rest stops)
    • Destination charging – available at places HGVs load/ unload (eg factories, ports, rail freight depots, retail sites etc)
  • Building on the above, DNOs could potentially look to set out the long term investment planned in each area to stimulate investment into vehicles and allay haulage industry concern about pace of infrastructure installation for battery-electric vehicle charging.
  • Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will also be necessary, and a strategic approach to hydrogen refuelling development could be developed. Specific suggestions raised included clarifying SG ambition in this space and identifying where a minimum network of en route refuellers should be; mapping to existing and planned developments (including ports + large depots); and developing/ aggregating regional demand around those points.
  • The benefits from deepening international partnerships were discussed, with participants referencing the following benefits that could result:
    • Opportunity to participate in multinational trials, and/or access to vehicle trial data and broader learning at the earliest stages
    • Evidence Scottish demand for zero emission vehicles to manufacturers based in Europe, helping to secure an adequate supply of vehicles
    • Potentially participate in demand aggregation projects with similarly small and ambitious nations to overcome barriers of cost and supply
  • Potential to explore the co-ordination and dissemination of trial data from existing ZE HGV trials, drawing on member networks.
  • Need to explore potential business models for hydrogen HGVs, improving shared understanding of the relevant elements of Total Operating Costs and where Scottish or collaborative action could positively impact on lifetime costs.
  • Benefits of raising awareness of and confidence in ZE HGVs, for example through a ZE truck expo or roadshow.
  • Importance of improving access to zero emission technology training for future and existing technicians and engineers
  • Willingness, where reserved matters such as legislation and tax hinder progress, to identify these and lobby for change.