Charging for beginners: 10 essentials you need to know

The electricity grid's ability to supply power for charging multiple electric trucks simultaneously, such as at the haulage company’s depot, is a critical factor in electrification. Potential bottlenecks mean you often must secure sufficient grid capacity from your energy supplier. Here, Scania collaborates with you as a haulier to assess grid requirements and implement scalable, reliable, and cost-efficient infrastructure solutions.

Scania offers a range of charging hardware to meet diverse operational needs, whether for home depots, destination sites, or public charging. Compact solutions, such as 40 kW portable chargers and wall boxes, are easy to install and ideal for small fleets or those starting their electrification journey.

For higher energy demands or faster charging, modular and scalable solutions like satellite chargers and all-in-one stations deliver outputs of up to 360 kW. These high-performance systems integrate charging functionality with payment systems and monitoring tools, ensuring efficient and seamless operations (see Smart charging below).

Smart charging uses technologies like AI to make charging simpler and smarter. By analysing energy needs, grid capacity, and schedules, it helps optimise charging times and cut costs. Adding renewable energy makes operations greener, while real-time monitoring keeps energy use efficient. Scania’s charging software (CMS) ensures optimal energy management while offering support, repair, and maintenance for all components in the charging solution.

Depot charging is the cornerstone of the charging system for battery electric vehicles. Chargers at the haulier’s home depot can cover 55 to 80 percent of a fleet’s energy needs, depending on the application. Vehicles are typically charged overnight or during downtime, ensuring they are fully charged and ready for deployment at the start of the day.

A key benefit of depot charging is that the process is managed through a charging management system (CMS) – see Smart charging (above). Additionally, depot charging allows transport companies to open their facilities for semi-public charging, enabling them to sell excess power to external hauliers and create new revenue streams.

Destination charging involves charging the heavy vehicle’s battery while it is parked at a destination such as a warehouse, a loading dock or a construction site. As a complement to depot charging, this method is ideal for heavy vehicles that have downtime periods, such as during loading and unloading. The downtime is used to charge the battery, ensuring that the truck has sufficient power for the next leg of the journey.

While depot and destination charging cover most energy needs, public charging will play an important role for certain long-haul routes.

The network of fast, truck-friendly chargers is growing rapidly, thanks to initiatives from both Charging Point Operators (CPOs) and the industry. And with the service Scania Charging Access, Scania is further simplifying public charging for hauliers. Additionally, through the Milence initiative, Scania and its partners aim to establish 1,700 high-performance charging points across Europe by 2027.

Today’s public chargers for trucks typically provide up to 350–375 kW, allowing quick top-ups. Future Megawatt Charging System (MCS) stations will push charging speeds even further, offering up to 3.75 MW for ultra-fast charging.

Charging time depends on the charger’s power, the vehicle’s charging capacity, temperature, battery size, and its state of charge. For instance, a 40 kW depot charger takes 13–14 hours for a full charge, while a 360 kW charger requires only 1–2 hours.

But since full charges are rarely necessary, it’s more relevant to focus on range, and the capacity needed for your transport task. Charging from 20 to 80 percent is quicker and extends battery life. For example, a 45-minute break can add hundreds of kilometers. By planning routes and charging intervals strategically, hauliers can minimise downtime and optimise efficiency.

Charging power, measured in kilowatts (kW), determines how quickly a battery can recharge. At a home depot, charging power typically ranges from 40 kW, ideal for slower, overnight charging, to 300–360 kW for faster top-ups in larger fleets. For public charging, trucks can increasingly often access fast chargers with up to 375 kW.  Looking ahead, Scania’s BEVs are already prepared for the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), which will enable even faster charging at up to 3.75 MW.

Scania’s batteries are built with forward compatibility in mind. Currently, Scania BEVs use CCS2 connectors, supporting up to 375 kW of charging power. Widely adopted across Europe, CCS2 is sufficient for most applications today. We have also prepared our batteries for the upcoming ultra-fast Megawatt Charging System (MCS), as highlighted in Public charging (above).