The paper aims at providing a consolidated knowledge base and TSOs view on the electrification potential (direct and indirect) of the existing heavy-duty vehicle segment, promising technologies and the impact on TSOs and the system overall that arise with the expected massive decarbonisation of the transportation sector according to the EU objectives for 2050.

The paper paves the way for understanding the reciprocal needs and constraints of both electricity and transport sectors and the set of actors and decision makers, with whom limited interactions have previously occurred. In the concept of System of Systems (see ENTSO-E Vision “A Power System for a Carbon Neutral Europe”), an important part of the flexibility sources, needed to compensate the increased weather-dependency and complexity of the power system, will come from sector integration.

As stated by Uroš Salobir, Chair of ENTSO-E’s Research Development & Innovation Committee: “The opportunities that arise for the system as a whole when capturing the flexibility that the decarbonisation of the transport sector provides, including the heavy-duty segment that accounts for almost 30% of the road transport emissions, are indeed important. Those will only be effectively seized when putting a favourable framework for innovation in place and when maintaining an enhanced cooperation among the system operators and key stakeholders involved”.

The position paper attached to the technical deliverables assess the current situation of the heavy-duty road transport segment in the EU, its carbon footprint and its decarbonisation objectives for 2050; subsequently, they provide a comparative description of the electrification technologies, followed by integration potential and limitations of both battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty vehicles. The main aim is to analyse their impact on a) the electricity system demand and connection characteristics, b) the flexibility potential and c) TSO hands-on experience. The analysis encompasses various transport applications, EU regulatory framework condition and a comparative total cost of ownership from a technological neutral perspective.

Read the Position Paper.  

Reead the background technical deliverables.