Germany Cracks the Code on EV Truck Charging

Germany’s MATSim model is cutting costs and chaos in electric freight.

13 Feb 2025

Germany is shaking up the electric freight game with a clever use of code. The country’s new strategy isn’t about pouring concrete faster. It’s about using data better. At the core is MATSim, an open-source simulation tool that maps how trucks really move.

Built by researchers at the Technical University of Berlin and ETH Zurich, with help from the German Aerospace Center, MATSim does more than track trucks. It studies driver rest times, logistics schedules, and legal rules to figure out where charging stations will actually make sense.

That’s a major shift. Instead of building stations and hoping trucks show up, MATSim helps pinpoint high-traffic, high-need areas. It means less wasted investment, fewer empty chargers, and better service for fleet operators.

Big industry players are already on board. Daimler Truck and MAN Truck & Bus, part of the Traton Group, are using the model to plan charging networks that reduce downtime and get trucks back on the road faster.

One standout feature? The model syncs with EU rules that require drivers to take breaks. That means charging stations can be placed exactly where drivers stop anyway. It’s a simple move, but it streamlines permitting and boosts driver trust.

Of course, real-world rollouts come with hurdles. In places like Hamburg, power grid constraints and slow paperwork are slowing progress. Land for stations is also in short supply. Still, partnerships are growing. Shell’s move to join the HoLa truck-charging network shows that big energy is taking the problem seriously.

The future could be even broader. Experts believe MATSim might soon guide charging for city buses and urban delivery vans, giving cities a powerful tool for smart electrification.

Germany’s approach shows that EV infrastructure isn’t just about hardware. It’s about insight. And by turning complex logistics into clear plans, MATSim may just become the blueprint for a cleaner, more efficient freight network across Europe.