Load Profiles of Charging Stations for Long-Haul Electric Trucks

Electric trucks play a crucial role in achieving a zero-emission future. As battery electric technology advances, electric trucks are expected to become a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to diesel trucks. Long-haul trucks have unique driving patterns that affect their charging needs, and investigating the expected load profiles is fundamental to conducting a proper assessment of the impact of truck fleet electrification on the charging infrastructure. This article presents an agent-based modeling approach to estimate high-power charging station load profiles, leveraging open data and driver decision-making patterns. The methodology is implemented in a software tool, ABChargingSim, which includes heterogeneous charging logic (distinguishing between urgent mid-shift and long-dwell off-shift charging, as well as different driver triggers to initiate charging) alongside a vehicle’s SOC-dependent power tapering charging patterns. A case study along a Norwegian highway demonstrates the framework’s applicability for evaluating grid impacts under various heavy-duty transport electrification scenarios. The findings illustrate how driver behavior and heavy-duty vehicle charging processes shape expected load profiles, emphasizing the value of such simulation frameworks as essential decision-support tools for the strategic planning and operation of future high-power charging networks.