Shared Electric Vehicle Charging Networks: A Flexible Approach to Support Deployment of Electric Fleets

Abstract

In November 2023, representatives from shipping, logistics, and industrial real estate convened at the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC) member meetings to discuss the critical barriers hindering fleet decarbonization and collaborative opportunities to overcome these challenges. The conversation highlighted the potential of pooled investment and shared use of charging infrastructure as a strategy to support the deployment of Class 8 battery electric heavy-duty trucking fleets. This piece builds on those discussions, offering a comprehensive exploration of stakeholder perspectives across the trucking industry to: (1) Illustrate the economic and functional benefits of pooling infrastructure investment and use across a network; (2) Examine the mechanisms by which this collaborative approach can be effectively implemented; and (3) Develop a framework to incorporate infrastructure pooling into fleet transition planning. Central to this effort is a proposal for a dedicated industry consortium, designed to unite stakeholders and drive the collective investment, planning, and shared use of charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition to electrified trucking fleets.