Open charging network for e‑trucks links depot and public charging points

What’s changing

FRYTE and SMATRICS have created a joint network that brings together public fast‑charging points and operational depot‑charging infrastructure. By leveraging the open industry standard OCPI, data on availability and location are fed into digital routing and charging‑planning tools. Drivers and dispatchers therefore gain a unified view of all charging options along their routes, simplifying real‑time decision‑making. The platform initially displays charging points in route planning and is slated to offer a reservation function for selected sites from 2027.

The network is open to multiple operators and prevents the creation of siloed solutions. Operators of depot charging points can now expose capacities that were previously used solely internally to other companies, improving utilisation of idle charging power. At the same time, public operators benefit from higher utilisation because logistics firms can specifically search for available fast‑charging points. The planned linkage of reservation data with energy‑management systems is intended to enable optimized energy use along the supply chain over the long term.

What it costs

The source does not provide published pricing for network usage, the reservation function, or the OCPI interface connection. Instead, a cost mechanism is described whereby depot‑charging operators could generate additional revenue by renting out spare capacity. Logistics companies incur costs to integrate the data into existing transport and dispatch systems, with the amount depending on their specific IT landscapes and licensing models. As no concrete figures are available, firms should contact FRYTE and SMATRICS for bespoke pricing details.

Another cost factor may be the use of public fast‑charging points, which are typically billed per kWh or per charging session. Exact rates vary by operator and region, so companies must base their calculations on the relevant price lists. Without published total costs, the only takeaway is that the network’s rollout brings both potential revenue for depot operators and variable operating expenses for users.

What could break

Integrating the open OCPI standard requires adjustments to existing IT systems, especially in transport‑management (TMS), fleet‑management and energy‑management. Interfaces to current dispatch and routing tools need to be extended or newly built, which can lead to temporary data inconsistencies. During the transition, brief outages in the display of charging‑point information may occur, affecting the dispatch of e‑truck drivers in particular.

In addition, staff responsible for planning and operating e‑trucks must be trained on the new platform. This includes drivers who make reservations, dispatchers who embed charging plans into their tours, and IT personnel who maintain the interfaces. Without sufficient training, mishandling can occur, reducing charging‑point utilisation and jeopardising the intended efficiency gains.

What a switch requires

A successful switch to the open charging network demands coordinated project planning that involves multiple departments. First, management must make the strategic decision to adopt the network and allocate a budget for the required IT adjustments. The IT department is responsible for implementing the OCPI interface and linking it to existing TMS systems, while dispatch tests and refines the new planning processes.

The average project duration is not specified, but comparable digitalisation projects suggest that implementing and testing the interfaces can take roughly three to six months. During this phase, pilot charging points should be selected to trial the reservation function in live operation. After a successful pilot, additional sites can be gradually integrated. Companies should now appoint internal contacts to coordinate communication with FRYTE and SMATRICS and to plan training programmes for drivers and dispatchers.