How can transport electrification contribute to cleaner air, and what infrastructure is needed to support the transition to electric freight?
These questions were discussed in Shanghai at the 2026 Yangtze River Delta Air Quality Management Workshop, which brought together environmental authorities, researchers and technical experts from China and beyond to explore pathways towards cleaner transport and improved air quality.
Representing Chalmers University of Technology and the MACBETH project, Wasim Shoman was invited as a speaker at the workshop, jointly hosted by the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences and Clean Air Asia.
His presentation focused on the modelling of charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty trucks, highlighting the importance of infrastructure planning as freight transport moves towards electrification.
The presentation compared two potential pathways for freight electrification in Europe: a mixed charging ecosystem and a fast-charging-only approach. The analysis examined the costs and benefits for both logistics companies and charging point operators, while also considering service quality and demand factors that influence charging requirements.
One of the key findings was the significant role of electricity costs in determining the overall cost of a future European electric truck charging network. The analysis indicates that, alongside investment in charging infrastructure, electricity costs can be a major driver of the economics of large-scale charging networks.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the challenges of decarbonising road freight across different regions. With China playing a major role in the global transition towards electric mobility, discussions in Shanghai offered valuable opportunities for international knowledge exchange on the infrastructure, energy and planning considerations shaping the future of electric heavy-duty transport.
Through its work on large-scale and interoperable charging solutions for electric heavy-duty vehicles, MACBETH contributes to this wider discussion on how charging infrastructure can support the transition towards more sustainable freight transport.