enERSyn - Electric Road Systems as part of truck electrification

Analysis of technical, economic, environmental and energy-systemic synergies of Electric Road Systems (ERS) with other truck electrification technologies

© monticellllo - stock.adobe.com

Background

Like all other sectors, road freight transport will have to be essentially greenhouse gas neutral in the future. As things stand, this will mean an electric drive in almost all vehicles. With regard to energy supply, however, various systems are under discussion, in particular storage of electricity in traction batteries on board the vehicles as well as fuelling the vehicles with hydrogen, from which a fuel cell generates electricity on board the vehicle.

If, in addition to stationary refueling and charging solutions, such trucks can also use dynamic charging while driving via Electric Road Systems (ERS) to obtain energy, various synergies can potentially be realized – for example, an improved utilisation of energy supply infrastructure along the roads and increased the operational flexibility of the trucks. In addition, a coordinated expansion of the different types of infrastructure could reduce overall costs (especially for distribution grids) and facilitate the systemic integration of fluctuating wind and solar energy.

Goal and scope of the project

In this project, we evaluate potential synergies of Electric Road Systems with stationary charging technologies, considering relevant technical restrictions (e.g. with regard to the transmittable maximum power). We will assess technically feasible configurations of vehicles and infrastructure regarding economic and strategic aspects by means of stakeholder involvement.

Furthermore, we quantify system costs, energy system effects and environmental impacts different scenarios. In the energy system, we also take into account effects of developments in other sectors (such as industry). Based on these extensive quantitative model analyses, we identify interdependencies between the various technologies that can be important for the fundamental design of future road transport infrastructure.