Europe’s road freight industry is heading for a significant transformation as battery electric trucks rapidly gain momentum. According to a new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the European Union will need between 4,000 and 5,300 public megawatt chargers by 2030 to support the expanding fleet of electric trucks.

The study highlights that overnight charging will remain the primary mode for electric trucks. By the end of the decade, the EU truck fleet is projected to require 22–28 gigawatts (GW) of total charging power capacity — equivalent to 150,000–175,000 private chargers and 60,000–80,000 public chargers. While megawatt chargers will account for almost 15% of total installed power capacity, they will represent only 2% of all chargers across the bloc.

“Battery electric trucks are on track to become the backbone of Europe’s zero-emission freight fleet,” said Dr. Hussein Basma, Senior Researcher at ICCT. “The growing fleet will require a balanced and strong charging infrastructure deployment across Europe. This study shows that most charging will take place at depots and rest areas, while megawatt chargers will be critical but relatively limited in number.”

Sales of electric trucks are expected to accelerate as manufacturers move to meet the EU’s CO2 reduction targets. Operators will adopt different charging strategies depending on range, routes, and available time. While long-haul routes may depend on ultrafast megawatt chargers, most vehicles will rely on overnight charging at depots or rest stops.

“More than half of public fast-charging needs can still be met with 350 kW chargers, which are more economic and easier to deploy,” noted Dr. Felipe Rodríguez, ICCT’s Director for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. “These numbers and insights give industry and policymakers a solid basis for planning the road ahead without speculation or guesswork. The challenge isn’t just scale — it’s placing the chargers when and where they’re needed most.”

The report also points out that advances in battery technology will lead to trucks equipped with larger batteries, making them less dependent on public megawatt chargers and potentially reducing the overall need for them by up to 40%.

To accelerate deployment, the ICCT recommends streamlining charging infrastructure and grid permitting processes and empowering grid operators to make anticipatory investments, ensuring Europe’s charging network can keep pace with the electrification of its freight sector.