Modeling energy demand and load profiles of electric truck fleets in urban transport - a case study from Stuttgart

This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for modeling and analyzing the energy demand of electric truck fleets in the urban general cargo sector, utilizing real-world delivery data. The approach is organized into four steps. First, freight orders are generated for 35 forwarding companies around Stuttgart. In the second step, route planning is carried out for a fleet of battery electric trucks ranging from 7.5 to 18 tons. The third step involves calculating energy consumption for each trip using route data from “openrouteservice”. Finally, all trips are translated into charging profiles, which are allocated to the respective logistics facilities. This methodology enables the identification of routes suitable for electrification based on factors such as battery capacity and dwell time limitations. For routes that remain viable for electrification, the charging process's flexibility is analyzed at each site. For most charging scenarios, significant time flexibility exists, especially if the charging process is shifted to night-time. This approach reduces the electrical load without disrupting logistical operations. The model forms a base for further investigations regarding the potential analysis of the charging flexibility of electric truck fleets in terms of power grid operations.