VIL

Logibat

Road freight transport is moving towards a zero-emission future. In Logibat, VIL has investigated what the operational and economic conditions are to make battery-electric transport feasible and what the requirements are to roll out a nationwide charging network.

status: Closed | theme: Green Supply Chains | type: Regional

With the remarkable advancement in battery technology, battery-electric road vehicles can offer cost-effective and substantial benefits. Additionally, increasing regulations and sustainability pressures are prompting the logistics sector to reconsider alternatives.

Truck manufacturers are signaling the end of the pioneering phase and are beginning to move towards series production. Thanks to the increasing power of battery technology, heavy-duty battery-electric trucks with a driving range of several hundred kilometers are now a reality. The favorable price development and the rapid establishment of “gigantic factories” in Europe for battery production indicate a high likelihood of quick breakthroughs for this technology.

Goals

To prepare the Flemish transport sector for the implementation of battery technology, to achieve emission-free goods road transport, VIL conducted a study in Logibat. The study aimed to investigate the operational and economic conditions necessary to make battery-electric transport feasible. Additionally, it looked at the requirements for establishing a nationwide charging network at shippers’ and depots’ facilities, as well as at (semi-)public stops. The study also explored the emergence of new business models in this ecosystem and examined the potential role of logistics companies as providers of charging infrastructure. Furthermore, the potential for implementing Catenary Solutions in Road Systems within Flanders was also studied.

 

Results

The age of electric trucks is no longer a far-off dream but is gradually becoming a reality. They will play a significant role in all aspects of freight transportation and revolutionize the transportation sector. The transport, energy, and government sectors need to collaborate. Electric driving requires a new operational approach, integrating charging into operations. The transport and energy sectors must understand each other well to make this shift. Transport companies will need to re-evaluate their energy procurement strategies while ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to support electric power. Energy suppliers can assist in providing cost-effective electricity. The government must provide a framework, such as adjusting driving and rest periods, to achieve these objectives.

A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tool was developed in collaboration with the VUB to compare the costs of battery-electric trucks versus diesel vehicles.

 

Practical info

Start: May 2021
End: November 2022
Total lead time: 18 months

Want to know more?

Contact Steve Sel (steve.sel@vil.be) or Sven Geysels (sven.geysels@vil.be)

Participants

31 companies: ABB, Aquafin, Barry Callebaut Belgium, Brink’s Solutions Belgium, Colruyt Group, Conway, Deconinck brandstoffen, ECS, Gilbert De Clerck, ICO, Ivago, Jogo Logistics, La Lorraine Transport, Lapauw Mario, Limburg.net, MC Transport & Logistics, Mobility Plus, North Sea Port, Port of Antwerp, Put-Hendrickx Vervoer, Quinntra, R&L, Renault, Scania, Siemens Mobility, Sprint Transport, Trans-IT, Transport Louwyck, Volvo, VP Xpress en Yuso.

   

 

Advisory Group

Avere, Comeos, Confederatie Bouw, Elia, Febetra, Febiac, Fluvius, Flux50, MOW and TLV.

Pers

News

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