Europe’s commercial transport sector is rapidly electrifying, and the foundation of this revolution is being built not on speed, but on smart, scalable, and affordable overnight charging. Industry leaders, like CTEK, are proving that Alternating Current (AC) depot charging is the most practical and financially sound method to power the continent’s growing fleets of electric vans and trucks.
The roadmap to 2030 for commercial vehicle electrification is clear: the majority of energy delivery must happen off-road. According to a landmark report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Battery Electric Trucks (BETs) in the EU will require between 150,000 and 175,000 private chargers and an additional 60,000–80,000 public chargers.
The ICCT report, Charging infrastructure needs for battery electric trucks in the European Union by 2030, strongly emphasizes that overnight depot charging is expected to be the primary mode of energy replenishment.
Operational Excellence: Matching Charging to Duty Cycles
Fleet operators across logistics, delivery, and municipal services are prioritizing depot charging as the solution to ensure their vehicles start every working day fully charged. This operational preference aligns perfectly with financial realities:
- Fixed Schedules: Vehicles used in last-mile, regional, and service operations typically park overnight for 12 to 14 hours.
- Cost Advantage: This long stationary window allows operators to fully cover their daily energy needs using 22kW AC setups, often utilizing cheaper, off-peak electricity tariffs.
For medium-duty BETs and lighter commercial vehicles, a 22kW AC setup is robust enough to handle the required load without unnecessarily stressing local electricity grids. Early EV adoption is strongest among these predictable-route vehicles, confirming that consistent overnight charging at the home depot is significantly more useful than relying on intermittent rapid charging en route.
CTEK’s CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3: Hardware Built for Depot Demands
As fleets transition, the requirement for robust, connected, and scalable hardware becomes critical. Chargers need to do more than just deliver power; they must integrate seamlessly into complex energy management ecosystems.
This is where advanced AC charge points, such as CTEK’s CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3 (CC3), step in as the market standard. The CC3 is engineered specifically for the intensity of depot environments, offering:
- 22kW Three-Phase Power: Capable of powering commercial EVs up to the required 22kW overnight charge rate.
- OCPP 2.0.1 Connectivity: Supporting the latest Open Charge Point Protocol for reliable communication with backend energy management systems.
- Load Management: Essential for distributing power efficiently across dozens of vehicles without exceeding the depot’s utility limits.
- Durability and Versatility: Designed to accommodate different vehicle types and be installed without requiring major, costly structural changes.
AC vs. DC: The Strategic Investment
While DC charging plays a valuable role in providing quick, high-power top-ups during daytime operation, the fundamental investment calculus favors AC for fleet infrastructure.
The difference in cost and deployment complexity is considerable. DC installations demand far higher capital investment and more intensive groundwork. In contrast, AC infrastructure can be deployed incrementally in stages, making it easier for depots to manage both their budget and the transition timeline. Crucially, incremental AC deployment is manageable for existing European grids, whereas large numbers of high-power DC chargers can introduce local complexity.
For depots aiming to electrify dozens of vehicles, AC provides the required ability to scale reliably without overspending or over-engineering the solution. Total cost of ownership and ease of practical deployment position AC as the strategic, indispensable core of fleet charging.
V2G: Turning Parked Assets into Revenue Generators
The strategic benefits of next-generation AC charge points extend to future revenue models, particularly Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.
The CC3, for example, supports V2G. Given that commercial vehicles are stationary for half a day or more, this capability allows depots to generate income by feeding excess electricity back into the grid during hours of peak demand, typically in the early evenings. This commercial upside significantly enhances the business case for fleet electrification.
CTEK is already proving this capability in real-world scenarios. The company is involved in three public depot projects in Gothenburg, Sweden, alongside the PEPP (Public EV Power Pilots) initiative. These projects are successfully using CC3 chargers in daily operations while actively preparing for bi-directional energy flow, demonstrating that AC charging delivers immediate operational benefits and secures future revenue streams.
The blended approach—AC for the majority of charging sessions and a limited number of DC units for urgent needs—is becoming the commercial standard. As electrification accelerates, AC depot charging, supported by reliable, advanced hardware like CTEK’s CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3, will form the strategic core of the transition across Europe.
Source Attribution
This article, adapted and summarized from an insightful opinion piece originally published by Daniel Forsberg, Marketing Manager EVSE at CTEK.
