Comparison of e-highways, battery swapping, and fast charging to power heavy land transportation

Abstract

This research analyses the comparative viability of three electric transport technologies, e-highways, battery swapping, and fast charging, on the basis of heavy-duty electric freight transport with consideration of their infrastructure needs, operational effectiveness, economic viability, and environmental friendliness. A case study is constructed using a hypothetical example of transporting 300,000 tonnes per annum (t/a) of paper from the Jamsankoski Paper Mill to Finnish ports, a long-haul, high-volume freight movement. The goal is to measure the practical applicability of every technology in the real world, based on energy usage, downtime, and infrastructure required. The findings reveal that e-highways provide the lowest-cost solution for long-distance, high-capacity freight with constant charging of vehicles, minimal downtime, and operating expenses in the long term. Although e-highways involve a high upfront investment in infrastructure, they offer substantial environmental advantages through the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions and energy-efficient transport. Battery swapping is a rapid vehicle turnaround but involves a high battery inventory and large infrastructure. The system can be scaled up, but it involves scalability problems in battery maintenance and environmental issues regarding battery disposal. Rapid charging is scalable and flexible, but will need to endure repeated shutdowns for recharging, resulting in increased operating costs and possible grid instability, based on the source of power. The study claims that e-highways are the technology most ready for mass roll-out in electric freight transport, most especially on long-distance and high-volume corridors. Battery swapping and fast charging also have attractive alternatives, but e-highways have the most favourable combination of operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. This study offers insightful knowledge of the potential of these technologies to shape the future of electric heavy-duty transport to enable more efficient and sustainable logistics operations.