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The impact of Electrification on Road Freight Transport Efficiency: a PhD presentation

Photo by Bernd Dittrich on Unsplash
Published Oct 05, 2024

On 30th September, Claudia Andruetto and Zeinab Raoofi presented their recent work titled “How Does Electrification Impact Road Freight Transport Efficiency? A System Dynamics Approach” at the ITRL’s member seminars.

This work is based on a project ITRL PhD Students Claudia Andruetto and Zeinab Raoofi worked on as a collaboration between ITRL and Trafikverket to explore the system-level impacts of electrification on road freight transport efficiency, as a complex concept with the involvement of various stakeholders. Introducing electrification adds further complexity, bringing in new stakeholders, dynamics, and efficiencies. The study utilizes system dynamics modeling to understand the dynamics between different efficiencies and the impact of electrification. The results of the simulation model highlight that there are trade-offs between different kinds of efficiencies, and it is essential to achieve a balance. Moreover, worse-before-better behavior should be expected, as electrification initially increases costs but has lower costs in the long term. The results point to two phases of E-truck adoption: during the first phase, the policy focus should be on expanding charging infrastructure; during the second phase, cost-focused policies become critical to boosting electrification. By understanding the impact of different policies, this paper offers valuable knowledge to decision-makers navigating the transition toward a more sustainable system.

Watch their presentation here: play.kth.se/media/ITRL+Member%27s+SeminarA+How+Does+Electrification+Impact[…]ght+Transport+EfficiencyF+A+System+Dynamics+Approach/0_oea71u3m

Are you interested in ITRL Member Seminars? Sign up to become an ITRL Member  to get access to various seminars within transport research and for an opportunity to present your own work within the transport sector.