Improving the Feasibility of Electrified Heavy-Duty Truck Fleets with Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer

This study assesses the capabilities of dynamic wireless power transfer with respect to range extension and payload capacity of heavy-duty trucks. Currently, a strong push towards tailpipe CO₂ emissions abatement in the heavy-duty transport sector by policymakers is driving the development of battery electric trucks. Yet, battery-electric heavy-duty trucks require large battery packs which may reduce the payload capacity and increase dwell time at charging stations, negatively affecting their acceptance among fleet operators. By investigating various levels of development of wireless charging technology and exploring various deployment scenarios for an electrified highway lane, the potential for a more efficient and environmentally friendly battery sizing was explored. Furthermore, the additional energy provided by the eRoad can be beneficially exploited by commercial fleet operators to extend the range of electric trucks, reduce the purchase cost by adopting rightsized battery packs and reduce dwell time. This could lead to reducing both economic and environmental costs of the fleet. In particular, a use case was developed to be representative of a long-haul delivery mission. To this end, the long-haul mission defined by the European heavy-duty CO₂ regulation was modified to include the eRoad segment. The study considers a 6x2 rigid truck belonging to group 9 as defined by the EU regulation. Different payloads were also considered to reflect the inherent variability in freight activity. A parametric study was conducted by changing the travel speed during dynamic charging events and the eRoad segment’s length, which reflects current and future technology development and costs. The study was carried out by first investigating the effect of each parameter individually and then simultaneously, with the aim of optimizing the range extension or battery right-sizing as well as the delivery time of goods.