Rijkswaterstaat tests loading heavy e-trucks in winter conditions
Rijkswaterstaat has launched a winter field test to investigate how heavy electric trucks and charging infrastructure perform in low temperatures. It looks at the impact of cold on charging speed, energy consumption and load on the power grid.
The test week, which started last Monday, is part of the Living Lab Heavy Duty Charging Squares knowledge programme, in which the government is working with market players to develop a “functional, affordable and scalable charging infrastructure” for heavy transport.
During the test week, five heavy-duty electric trucks from DAF, Daimler, Renault, Volvo and MAN will be tested at six different charging locations in the Netherlands. These include both public charging sites, such as Shell Eindhoven Acht and Circle K Sevenum, and semi-public locations such as WattHub in Geldermalsen and the Brabant Waste Team in Tilburg. Milence truck parks in Venlo and Truckparking Rotterdam are also participating.
Measuring multiple aspects
The test week will focus on several aspects of the charging process, including changes in charging speed at lower temperatures, energy consumption at different battery states and the effect of repeated charging at high charge rates. It also looks at the interaction between vehicle and charging station, night charging, simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles and the operation of reservation and payment systems.
The number of electric trucks is increasing, so the need for robust charging squares is growing, says Rijkswaterstaat. Previous test weeks within the Living Lab programme already provided insights on charging speed, location usage and simultaneous charging, among other things. The winter test should provide insight into the factors that determine whether charging is smooth and predictable under winter conditions, and seasonal influences on the charging process and the electricity grid. It is not yet known when the results of the test week will be published.
Also read:
- ‘EU should continue subsidising charging and hydrogen infrastructure’
- These are the nominees for the Charging Infrastructure Innovation Award Belgium
- Coalition calls on Lower House for fair allocation of municipal land for energy transition
