Many businesses are beginning to make the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric ones in line with the country’s soon-approaching net-zero goals and steer towards renewable energy connections. As such, it’s important that your business is well-equipped to accommodate this.
With businesses transitioning towards electric vehicle (EV) fleets, they require regular, high-power charging, especially for the increased power that electric trucks need. As such, electric truck charging infrastructure needs to be correctly planned and developed to provide consistent, large amounts of renewable power that these vehicles require.
In this Serconnect blog, we delve further into what electric truck charging infrastructure entails and how our electric vehicle charging hub services can keep your site future-proofed and expandable as your EV fleet grows.
Electric Truck Charging Infrastructure and Its Needs
Electric trucks are becoming an increasingly commonplace addition to many businesses’ fleets as the low-emission, greener alternative to fossil fuel-powered vehicles. However, as the world gradually transitions away from ICE vehicles, it’s important that the right electrical infrastructure is installed.
While passenger EV charging is less demanding because they typically require less power to complete their journeys, electric trucks require much more power on a regular basis to continue business operations. This is because large commercial vehicles carry bigger batteries and often need rapid turnaround times.
As a result, EV charging stations for trucks require a robust and efficient charging infrastructure to support this, for both on-site and on-route charging points alike.
Electric Truck Charging Sites
When operating an EV fleet containing electric trucks, it’s vital to ensure that they are fully charged with the power they need to complete their journeys.
For businesses making the transition to EV fleets, installing a private charging depot on-site will be the first port of call. Before setting off on their journeys and after returning to your site after their completion, your charging depot will be where your electric trucks will charge overnight to restore their power. This alone may be sufficient for trucks making relatively shorter journeys, though those travelling longer distances will need recharging at public charging stations.
Public stations are gradually increasing in number along key highways and in urban areas that are capable of supporting the larger batteries of electric trucks. Though the downtime it will take to recharge en route will need to be accounted for.
In helping to keep electric trucks recharged quickly, there is also a growing development of ultra-fast charging points for trucks. These stations aim to reduce charging times significantly, making the process more convenient and comparable to the time it takes to refuel a diesel truck.
Although still in its relatively early development and rollout, ultra-fast charging is a priority for the industry and will likely significantly streamline the future of electric trucking. However, on-site, overnight depot charging currently remains the most viable and consistent method to ensure smooth business operations. Yet, all electric truck charging points require reliable infrastructure to supply the large amount of power they need.
How Much Power Does a Truck Charging Hub Require?
The power required for an electric truck charging hub depends on several aspects, such as the number of chargers, charging speed, and the battery capacity of the trucks being charged. Between the different charging speeds of electric truck charging stations, the power required is typically as follows:
Standard charging: For slower, overnight charging on-site (often referred to as Level 2 charging), each truck charging station may require anywhere from 22kW to 50kW.
Fast charging: For fast chargers (typically used during break times or between shifts), power requirements range between 100kW to 350kW per charging point. This helps reduce downtime and is more suited for high-volume or long-haul fleets.
Ultra-fast charging: The latest advancements in charging technology may require up to 1MW per charger, enabling rapid charging for long-distance trucks that need to stay on the road.
Practical Considerations for Truck Charging Projects
With the high power requirements that electric truck hubs require, it’s essential that sites are properly prepared in terms of electrical infrastructure. This includes not just the chargers themselves, but also the:
Grid capacity and power demand: Heavy-duty charging hubs need high-capacity grid connections that may exceed what a site’s existing supply can handle. Therefore, substantial upgrades or new connections are often required to the local electricity network.
Site layout and accessibility: Charging areas will need to comfortably accommodate large vehicles and have sufficient space for manoeuvre, parking, and safety clearances.
Charger type and speed: Fast and ultra‑fast charging solutions are increasingly critical for commercial operations to minimise downtime.
Long‑term scalability: As fleets grow or energy requirements evolve, infrastructure should be capable of being expanded or upgraded without excessive cost.
Comprehensive EV Charging Infrastructure Services at Serconnect
As an experienced NERS‑accredited Independent Connection Provider, we can manage the entire connection process for electric truck charging infrastructure for your site. From feasibility studies and infrastructure design to installation and energisation, we can fully complete your project all within your timescale and budget needs.
Whether we’re preparing your site for heavy-duty truck chargers through our civil solutions, planning high-capacity electricity connections for your site through feasibility studies, or powering your connection through substation installation and cable jointing, you can rely on our services to help your business move towards a more sustainable future with ease.
To find out more about how we can install everything needed to get your electric truck charging infrastructure quickly connected, get in touch with a member of our team today. We will be more than happy to discuss how we can align our services with your project requirements.
