New research from Heriot-Watt University suggests that Scotland’s truck service stations, fleet depots, truck parks and ports could help road freight operators transition to all-electric fleets by installing vehicle charging points.

In its report “Towards a Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure for Scotland‘, the university’s Centre for Sustainable Road Transport identifies the need to provide charging points for battery-electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) both at fleet depots and along major freight routes, including the A9, A90 and M74. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks will also need charging points along these routes.

Transport Scotland, Scotland’s national transport agency, commissioned the report as part of its commitment to “Scotland’s Truck Decarbonisation Path‘, a plan to help Scotland’s trucking industry transition to zero emission vehicles.

Professor Phil Greening, a logistics expert at Heriot-Watt University and director of the Centre for Sustainable Road Transport, said: “Electric trucks are already on our roads and most short-distance freight deliveries can be made without additional charging stops.

“However, for all current freight routes in Scotland to be completed, it is essential that charging points for electric trucks are provided both at depots and along freight routes, particularly the busiest ones.”

The A9 between Stirling and Inverness, the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle are all “critical freight corridors”, according to researchers who have identified “hotspot” locations for electric truck charging points along these routes.

These include Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands, Ballinluig in Perth and Kinross, Stracathro in Angus, Abington in South Lanarkshire and Annandale Water in Dumfries and Galloway.

The report notes that charging points will, where possible, be placed in existing locations such as roadside truck stops, ports and transport hubs such as container terminals.

Land will also be needed within or near these charger locations, for example at ports, to install fast chargers and provide space for parking and charging trucks.

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Electrical substations that regulate the distribution of electricity will likely require upgrades in many areas to cope with increased vehicle charging, including during peak hours.

Critical substation locations include Milnathort in Perth and Kinross, Inchbare in Angus, Symington in South Lanarkshire, Kirkwall in Orkney and Ullapool in the Highlands.

Scientists modeled routes that would be the same if all transport fleets used hydrogen, a type of gas used to produce zero-emission fuel.

Although hydrogen is more expensive than battery-powered electricity, computer modelling has shown that hydrogen refuelling stations will be widespread along the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle.

The researchers found that there is also potential for hydrogen refueling stations in the central belt, but to a lesser extent.

Lower traffic volumes are predicted along the A9, probably due to the location of the heavy goods vehicle fleet included in the data sample.

Key hydrogen refuelling stations include Dalwhinnie, Annandale Water, Kinross in Perth and Kinross and Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire.

For more information on the use of hydrogen as a fuel in the logistics sector, please read this article in this issue Logistics Manager!

The study was carried out using computer modelling and “advanced analytics” using real data from 80,000 truck journeys in Scotland.

The project was carried out using an in-house modelling and simulation package developed by the Centre for Sustainable Road Transport at Heriot-Watt University.

The centre is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt, the University of Cambridge, the University of Westminster and the transport industry.

To better understand the needs of freight charges in Scotland, more data on truck journeys is needed, and the researchers are asking operators to provide it.

Further research is also needed into remote areas with fewer existing facilities, such as petrol stations and lorry stops, where charging points could be installed. These have been identified on the A9 north of Invergordon and in Shetland.

Stakeholders involved in the study also suggest the A82 and A83 roads in Argyll and Bute are “important routes for timber transport, aquaculture and access to the Outer Hebrides”.

The A77 to Cairnryan in Stranraer is another remote area where “potential gaps in charging infrastructure require further modelling”, the researchers say. Ferry transport to the Scottish islands also needs to be factored into the modelling.

The researchers hope to publish an updated report in 2025 and say these situations will be further studied as new data becomes available.

The Centre for Sustainable Road Transport said the project sets a role model for using data to assess key charging and refuelling locations for zero emission trucks across Scotland.