Can Germany Electrify Trucking? Inside the eHighway Green Freight Projects
As Germany pursues ambitious decarbonization targets, sustainably powering heavy transport poses a formidable challenge. Trucking accounts for over 70% of road freight, relying heavily on polluting diesel. But Germany’s novel “eHighway” experiment aims to prove that electrification can conquer even long-haul logistics emissions.
The eHighway green freight project pioneers an innovative solution to decarbonize the heavy trucking industry by adapting the proven catenary wire technology that powers zero direct emissions metro trains and light rail networks today. Germany has erected connectible overhead power lines above designated truck lanes along three pilot highways totaling roughly 30 kilometers so far.
Specially designed diesel-electric hybrid trucks manufactured by Siemens can attach to these electrified catenary wires via extendable current collectors while driving at speeds up to 90 km/hr. This enables the hybrid trucks’ electric motors to directly tap into the steady flow of electricity from the wires as the small onboard diesel generators cut out.
The generators restart when trucks disconnect from the catenary system, using backup batteries to bridge short gaps until reconnecting. This catenary-electric hybrid capability thereby facilitates extended all-electric operation with no local air pollution for transport trucks carrying heavy cargo on highway routes.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport continues to coordinate with industrial partners on feasibility analysis and data review from real-world testing conditions. If scalability proves viable, widespread eHighway adoption could profoundly reduce diesel emissions from Germany’s 2.2 million freight trucks that currently guzzle 17 billion liters annually, slashing air pollution and climate impacts.
Early testing shows encouraging functionality for small-scale deployment, emulating how legacy rail transport established electrification nearly a century ago. Indeed, trolleys and trams have employed simple rooftop poles to tap into overhead catenary power for over 130 years in cities worldwide. Germany is now pioneering the expansion of this conductor contact into trucking via the eHighway green freight project.
But key uncertainties swirl regarding financial viability and broad system buildout. Can appropriately wide coverage of trucking routes and distances realistically adopt this infrastructure in Germany and beyond?
See also: Electric Trucks Take the Load on the Road in New Zealand.
Well-Targeted Potential in Logistics Hotspots
In Metro Zones: Clustering eHighway green freight project infrastructure near major warehousing hubs and between crowded metro areas could electrify substantial trucking flows. For example, the three current German pilot lines target stretchers linking busy logistics zones around Frankfurt, Berlin and Mannheim. In fact, early data shows the operational prototypes smoothly supporting commercial routes. And thanks to recent battery advancements, trucks can handle last-mile trips emission-free after exiting electrified highways.
At Mega Ports: Germany’s eHighway green freight project pilot also extends from Lübeck port on the Baltic Coast, highlighting the vast emissions from landside freight handling around major marine terminals. Supplying these vast logistics clusters with electric power access could significantly clean up both inbound and outbound container trucking and equipment like yard hostlers.
Across Borders: The technology could also readily scale across borders, expanding eHighway green freight project clean corridors seamlessly across single markets like the EU. Overhead power interfaces use standardized components that harmonize well with interoperable truck designs.
Remaining Limitations
Constructing thousands of kilometers of electrified road is no small feat, however. In fact, cost projections for the eHighway green freight project hover around €3-7 million per kilometer – presenting a formidable price tag for widescale adoption. Participating trucks require specialized hybrid drivetrains to leverage the tech, though prices should decline with scale.
While the eHighway could transform trucking across logistics clusters, electrifying extremely long highway segments through remote regions poses additional difficulties from infrastructure access to grid capacity. Alternative clean fuels may ultimately need to fill these gaps.
Germany’s eHighway green freight project kicks off an era where catenary trucking could alleviate emissions, much like rails sparked the electric transport revolution decades ago. But turning isolated pilots into expansive zero-emission logistics corridors remains a tall order. With the right intersection of commercial viability and government will, Germany’s innovation could pave the way for broader adoption as decarbonization efforts accelerate globally.
