Depot Charging: Efficient E-Mobility for Logistics with Smart Charging Management

Electrifying road freight is gaining momentum. A recent study by Fraunhofer ISI and the Öko-Institut, commissioned by Transport & Environment, shows: 87% of truck trips in Germany could already be electric today. Why? Because most journeys cover distances under 150 km.

This means: the greatest potential for electric trucks lies in regional transport – and that’s exactly where depot charging as a charging strategy plays to its strengths.

What is depot charging?

Depot charging means charging electric vehicles where they already park regularly – at the company’s own site, the depot. This applies especially to truck fleets in logistics, retail, and municipal operations.

Unlike public fast charging, depot charging is plannable, standardized, and seamlessly integrated into operational workflows. For companies with fixed routes and downtime, this offers clear technical and economic advantages.

Why choose depot charging?

The key benefits at a glance:

• No dependence on public charging infrastructure
• Charging during non-operational hours
• Use of existing depot space
• Scalable alongside fleet growth
• Optimizable through energy management systems

The study shows: Smart depot charging could support up to 3 billion kilometers of truck mileage per year – sustainably and cost-efficiently.

The challenges of depot charging

Despite the advantages, many companies are just getting started. In practice, the most common hurdles include:

• Insufficient grid connections, especially at older sites
• High upfront investment for infrastructure and grid upgrades
• Complicated permitting and planning processes
• Lack of targeted funding programs

A key issue is grid availability: Many depots lack the required capacity to charge multiple electric trucks simultaneously. Political uncertainty adds to the challenge.

Smart charging management as a gamechanger

What’s often underestimated: Smart charging management can significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for costly grid upgrades.

By intelligently distributing charging across the day, companies can avoid peak loads and make optimal use of existing grid capacity. As a result, energy costs go down, and electrification becomes more feasible – even at sites with limited infrastructure.

Smart charging transforms load management from a cost factor into a competitive advantage.

Depot charging pays off – when managed intelligently

A real-world example from regional logistics shows just how much of a difference smart energy management makes – based on a 10-year scenario with a 40-ton truck operating 220 days per year.

Typical Operating & Charging Schedule:

Depot vehicles have regular downtime – ideal for planned, efficient charging without stressing the grid.

Cost comparison: Basic vs. smart approach

	Basic approach	Smart approach (IO-Dynamics)
Investment	€217,570 incl. transformer upgrade	€133,156 without transformer upgrade
Hardware (annual)	€24,602	€15,691
Energy costs (annual)	€123,681	€53,824
Cost per km	37.43 ct/km	16.84 ct/km
Savings		−55%

Result:

Thanks to intelligent charging management, annual energy costs can be more than halved, grid expansion costs avoided, and operating costs reduced in the long term. The smart solution reduces the total cost per kilometer by 55% – making depot charging not only plannable and scalable, but above all economically attractive.

Conclusion: Now is the time to act

The technology is ready. The vehicles are available. And the route profiles fit. Now it’s about choosing the right charging approach – and depot charging is the most pragmatic starting point.

With the AFIR regulation, the EU has created an important framework – but the actual expansion of the charging infrastructure for trucks is making slow progress in many places. This is why many companies are taking the initiative and building charging infrastructure themselves.

Those who choose smart charging solutions today will drive cost-efficient, emission-free, and future-ready fleets – regardless of policy delays.

👉 Want to learn more? Watch our explainer video to see how smart charging works – clearly explained in just a few minutes.

Outlook: sharing charging infrastructure

More and more companies today are thinking beyond their own fleet. When charging infrastructure is shared with partners or the public — as with semi-public charging — new opportunities arise: for better capacity utilization, lower costs and grid-friendly operation.

Smart control and intelligent charging management form the basis here — not only for efficient depot charging, but also for sustainable, shared charging parks.

👉 See how it works in practice: Optimal charging park management