Scotland’s truck stops, fleet depots, lorry parks and ports can help road freight operators switch to all-electric fleets by installing vehicle charging points, new research from Heriot-Watt University suggests.

In its report, “Towards Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure in Scotland,” the University’s Center for Sustainable Road Freight identifies a need for charging points for battery-operated electric heavy goods vehicles both at fleet depots and along major freight routes including the A9, A90 and M74. Hydrogen trucks installed with fuel cells would also need charging points along these routes.

Transport Scotland, Scotland’s national transport agency, commissioned the report as part of its commitment to the HGV Decarbonization Pathway for Scotland, a plan to help the heavy goods vehicle industry in Scotland transition to zero emission trucks.

Professor Phil Greening, a logistics expert at Heriot-Watt University and Director of The Center for Sustainable Road Freight, said, “Electric trucks are already on our roads and most short haul freight deliveries can already be completed without any extra charging stops. But for all current freight routes in Scotland to be completed, charging points for electric heavy goods vehicles need to be provided both at depots and along freight routes, particularly the most heavily used ones.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said, “I’m grateful to Professor Phil Greening and the team at the Center for Sustainable Road Freight for taking forward this important research, commissioned by the Scottish Government, which shows where investment in infrastructure to support zero-emission heavy goods vehicles will be required.

“This signals to private charge point companies and electrical distribution network operators where focused investment can bring improvements for the areas that need it most.”

The A9 between Stirling and Inverness, the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen, and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle are “critical corridors for freight,” say the researchers, who have identified “hot spot” 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.

Where possible, charging points would be positioned at existing locations like truck stops, lorry parks, ports and transport hubs like container storage terminals, the report notes. Land in or next to these charger locations, for example ports, would also be needed to install rapid chargers and provide space for HGVs to park and charge.

Electrical substations—which regulate the distribution of electricity—would likely need upgrades in a number of areas to cope with increased vehicle charging, including at peak periods. “Critical” substation locations include Milnathort in Perth and Kinross, Inchbare in Angus, Symington in South Lanarkshire, Kirkwall in Orkney and Ullapool in the Highlands.

The researchers modeled the same routes as if all freight fleets were running on hydrogen, a type of gas that is used to make zero-emission fuel. Although hydrogen is more expensive than electricity stored in batteries, the computer modeling showed that hydrogen refueling stations would be used heavily along the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen and the M74 between Glasgow and Carlisle.

There was also potential for hydrogen refueling stations in the central belt, but to a lesser extent, the researchers found. And along the A9, lighter usage is predicted, probably because of where the freight fleets in the sample data are based.

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

Computer modeling and “advanced analytics” using real-world data from 80,000 truck journeys in Scotland was used to carry out the research. The project was delivered using an in-house modeling and simulation suite developed by the Center for Sustainable Road Freight at Heriot-Watt University. The Center is a collaboration among Heriot-Watt, Cambridge University, Westminster University and the freight industry.

More journey data is needed from heavy goods vehicle fleets to continue building this picture of freight charging needs in Scotland, and the researchers are inviting operators to provide this.

Further investigation is also needed of remote areas with fewer existing facilities like service stations and truck stops where charging points could be installed. These were identified on the A9 north of Invergordon and in Shetland. Stakeholders in the research also suggest the A82 and A83 in Argyll and Bute, which are “important freight routes for timber, aquaculture and access to the Western Isles.”

The A77 to Cairnryan in Stranraer is another remote area where “potential gaps in charging infrastructure require further modeling,” the researchers say. Transport by ferry to the Scottish islands also needs to be accounted for in modeling.

The researchers hope to publish an updated report in 2025 and say once more data becomes available, these situations will be further investigated.

The Center for Sustainable Road Freight said the project provided a blueprint for using data to assess critical charging and refueling locations for zero-emission heavy goods vehicles across Scotland.