Scottish truck operators are being invited to test a new modelling tool designed to identify electric HGV charging requirements and assess electricity grid capacity.
Developed by researchers at Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight, the ScotVolt interactive dashboard uses data from around 80,000 real truck journeys in Scotland to model the impact of switching diesel HGVs to electric power.
Commissioned by Transport Scotland, the tool allows fleet operators to test different vehicle battery sizes, routes and charging scenarios to assess infrastructure requirements and potential grid constraints.
The dashboard covers six key freight corridors: the A9, A90, A1, M74, A77 and A75. It simulates a year of operations across 56 scenarios, accounting for seasonal variations in energy consumption, charging availability and whether trucks can recharge overnight at depots.
Stephen Flynn, cabinet secretary for economy, tourism and transport, said ScotVolt was a “critical milestone” in efforts to overcome barriers to zero-emission HGVs.
“It gives us a better understanding of what electric truck charging infrastructure is needed in Scotland – and helps operators explore their own transition to zero emission HGVs,” he said.
Professor Phil Greening, deputy director of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight, said the tool could help reduce the risks associated with investment in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure.
Chris Ashley, net zero lead at the Road Haulage Association, said charging locations and availability remained uncertain for many operators, despite electric vehicles already entering fleets.
“ScotVolt sheds welcome light on this question and gives operators a practical tool to test their own real-world scenarios,” he said.
Previous research for Transport Scotland identified a requirement for at least 63 charging points along major Scottish freight routes, including the A9, A90 and M74. Of these, 26 were already built or under development, leaving 37 additional sites required.
Fleet owners, hauliers, delivery companies and logistics businesses are being invited to test ScotVolt against their own routes and provide feedback.
Researchers identified five key findings from the ScotVolt modelling:
- Larger batteries reduce reliance on en-route charging. Doubling HGV battery capacity from 500kWh to 1,000kWh roughly halves the number of trucks requiring en-route charging stops. It also cuts daily energy demand at highway charging sites by around 75%, as more charging can take place at depots.
- Winter significantly increases electricity demand. Electric HGVs use around 50% more energy in winter than in summer under the modelled scenarios. Heating requirements, denser cold air and reduced battery efficiency contribute to the increase, potentially pushing some charging sites beyond local grid capacity.
- Depot charging increases the number of sites needed. Introducing depot charging across Scotland could roughly triple the number of charging locations required, but increase total daily electricity consumption by only 20% to 40%. Demand would also be distributed more evenly across local depots rather than concentrated at roadside charging hubs.
- Grid capacity depends on individual locations. The ability to support electric HGV charging varies between electricity substations. A scenario may be feasible at one location but exceed available capacity at another, depending on existing demand and spare grid capacity. Infrastructure planning therefore needs to assess each proposed charging site individually.
- Peak demand determines the number of charging bays. Charging infrastructure must accommodate the number of trucks needing to charge simultaneously during busy periods, not simply average daily usage. ScotVolt models peak demand to estimate how many charging bays each site requires, helping to avoid queues and insufficient charging capacity.
