Under the backdrop of China accelerating the development of a unified and open transportation market and implementing targeted actions to reduce overall logistics costs, the energy transition of the transportation sector has become a clearly defined objective. Data shows that heavy-duty trucks account for only 3% of the total vehicle fleet, yet consume 54% of road transport fuel. Advancing the electrification of heavy-duty trucks is therefore a decisive battleground for carbon reduction and efficiency gains in the transport sector. However, the sharp conflict between charging efficiency and operational uptime, insufficient charging network coverage, and a fragmented technology ecosystem remain the core barriers to medium- and long-haul electrification.
Systemic Barriers: A Triple Challenge of Efficiency, Network, and Ecosystem
Achieving a breakthrough in heavy-duty truck electrification first requires acknowledging their unique role as productive assets. Unlike passenger vehicles, any downtime for heavy-duty trucks translates directly into economic loss. Completing rapid charging for large-capacity batteries within limited mandatory rest periods is fundamental to maintaining operational efficiency. At present, charging infrastructure is still largely concentrated in closed scenarios such as ports and industrial parks, making it difficult to support continuous operation along trunk logistics corridors and thus constraining the application scope of electric heavy-duty trucks.
Divergent technology pathways and the lack of unified standards further elevate the overall cost and complexity of industrial upgrading. Differences in charging interfaces and communication protocols across vehicle platforms force operators into repeated investments and increase operational constraints. Meanwhile, system-level challenges—such as battery lifespan management under high-power charging and adaptability to extreme environments—cannot be resolved through isolated technological improvements. They require cross-disciplinary coordination and deep integration across the industrial chain.
Breaking the Deadlock: Technology Integration, Energy Synergy, and Ecosystem Co-Building
Addressing these challenges demands a systemic approach that goes beyond upgrading charging equipment alone. Breakthroughs such as megawatt-level ultra-fast charging aim to compress charging time to align with driver rest periods—for example, enabling substantial energy replenishment within 15 minutes. This is the physical prerequisite for the economic viability of heavy-duty truck electrification.
More advanced solutions lie in the deep integration of charging infrastructure with energy systems. Through the application of “solar–storage–charging” integrated microgrids and grid-forming technologies, charging stations can mitigate the impact of high-power loads on regional grids while maximizing on-site consumption of renewable energy. In this way, charging networks themselves become flexible regulating units within the new power system. This approach not only addresses grid connection constraints but also enhances the green value of the entire value chain.
Ultimately, large-scale industrial development depends on a unified and open ecosystem. Jointly defining ultra-fast charging standards for commercial vehicles and forming industry alliances that include OEMs, operators, and energy service providers are fundamental to reducing total societal costs and accelerating interoperability and scenario expansion. Moving from closed environments to open trunk networks relies on the coordinated advancement of technical standards and business models.
Toward a New Phase of the Charging Industry
The profound transformation involved in heavy-duty truck electrification signals that the charging industry has entered a new phase—one characterized by addressing complex systemic challenges and driving cross-industry integration.
The World Charging Technology & Facilities Exhibition offers a panoramic perspective, systematically showcasing the full technology chain—from core power semiconductor devices and energy storage batteries to liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging systems and intelligent energy management platforms. The exhibition focuses on how these technological modules can be integrated into comprehensive solutions capable of meeting the stringent operational demands of commercial vehicles such as heavy-duty trucks.
Positioned as a hub for standards dialogue and ecosystem collaboration, the exhibition brings together heavy-duty truck manufacturers, charging operators, grid companies, logistics enterprises, and policymakers from around the world, creating a unique space for cross-sector engagement. Here, frontier topics such as megawatt-level charging interface standards, vehicle-to-grid business models, and the co-development of cross-border green logistics corridors can be fully explored. This accelerates the formation of industry consensus and drives solutions from pilot demonstrations toward large-scale commercialization—reshaping the energy supply of logistics arteries and providing solid support for energy security and structural optimization.