Key takeaways
- Depot charging is not about maximum charging power. According to Tobias Wolff (Smatrics), real routes, dwell times, and operations decide the right design.
- Almost half of all heavy trucks only drive regionally, within 300 kilometres of the depot. That is exactly the core area for depot charging, according to Smatrics.
- Smatrics uses dispenser solutions at large sites. A central unit feeds several charge points and shares power as needed.
- Dispatch (trip planning) decides which truck gets what power when, not the driver at the plug. The Smatrics backend (control software) runs over 20,000 charge points, the firm says.
- The depot becomes part of an energy network. PV system (solar power), storage, grid power, load management, and energy management system (EMS) link together.
Why does the depot become a competitive factor?
Whoever wants to run e-trucks economically must rethink their depot. Switching from diesel to power changes vehicles, supply, and processes at once. Tobias Wolff is Head of Sales Germany at Smatrics. In the electrive LIVE talk, he says the depot becomes part of the business model.
Smatrics has been building charging infrastructure for companies for years, the firm says. Its backend (control software) runs over 20,000 charge points in Germany and Austria. More than 200 DC projects have been completed in Germany. DC stands for direct current and means fast charging.
What economic benefit does depot charging bring?
The biggest benefit, Wolff says, is: hauliers charge their trucks at their own power rates. They buy power cheaply themselves and pay no public fast-charger prices.
This pays off most in regional traffic. Figures Wolff shows at electrive LIVE: almost half of all heavy trucks in Germany run regionally. Regional here means: within 300 kilometres of the depot.
Long day tours can also work for e-trucks. The trucks must shuttle between several depots and top up on the way, Smatrics says.
What charging power does a depot really need?
The answer is not: as much as possible. Wolff warns clearly against a common planning mistake. Many plan like this: charge points × maximum power × large grid connection. This drives up costs and long build waits. At the same time, the costly power sits unused for most of the day.
Real routes, dwell times, and operations are what matter, Smatrics says. Wolff puts it like this in the talk:
„There is no standard solution. Every depot brings truly individual challenges.“
— Tobias Wolff, Vertriebsleiter Deutschland bei Smatrics, electrive LIVE 2026
Within logistics too, needs vary widely. Smatrics names several sectors with their own workflows in the talk:
- Food logistics
- Waste logistics
- Automotive logistics
- General cargo logistics
Every depot is different
Before any depot infrastructure, an honest analysis is needed, Smatrics says: what routes do the trucks run? How long do they stand? When must power be ready? Only then does load management come, the plan for who gets how much power when.
How does the dispenser concept work?
Smatrics uses dispenser solutions at large sites, the firm says. A dispenser is a charge post without its own large kit inside. A central unit supplies the power to several dispensers.
Benefit: the available power can be shared as needed. When many trucks are at the depot at once, the system hands out power smartly. Drivers do not need to hunt a specific charge point for high power, Smatrics says.
Who controls the power, driver or dispatch?
The question sounds simple, but it matters. At normal charge points, the driver picks a plug and plugs in. In a professional depot, it works differently, Smatrics says.
Instead, dispatch, that is, trip planning, decides which truck gets how much power when. The system knows the route, the next job, and the battery level. A charging plan comes from this. Load management runs it automatically.
Availability is the top priority for Wolff:
„The absolute top priority for every logistician is maximum charge point availability.“
— Tobias Wolff, Smatrics, electrive LIVE 2026
Availability beats comfort
A broken charge point for a company car is just a nuisance, Wolff says. If a point fails in an e-truck fleet, transport output suffers at once. Smatrics monitors all charge points around the clock, the firm says. It also keeps a service team ready across Germany.
What does "shared depot charging" mean?
This is the next step for Smatrics. First, your own fleet is served safely. If spare capacity is left, it goes to known partners or delivering hauliers.
External use must not disrupt your own operation, Smatrics says. An access and billing system tracks and charges for the power.
This turns the depot into a shareable resource. It works like a workshop. The workshop services its own fleet and partner hauliers on the same site.
Why does the depot become an energy network?
Today the depot is more than just a charging area. It becomes part of a large energy system, Smatrics says. Several pieces belong to this:
- Photovoltaic system (solar power) on roof or canopy
- Battery storage as a buffer
- Grid power buying at your own rates
- Charging planning with dynamic load management
- Selling flexibility, selling power when the grid needs it (in the future)
The energy management system (EMS) plays a central role. It links the individual parts and needs. Without an EMS, the pieces stay single islands with no real use, Smatrics says.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does setting up an e-truck depot cost?
- The source gives no concrete figures. The investment depends on vehicles, dwell times, and grid build-out, Wolff says.
- How many charge points should a depot have?
- Smatrics gives no rule of thumb. Wolff warns against simply setting charge points × maximum power. Real routes and dwell times matter.
- What is a dispenser in charging infrastructure?
- A dispenser is a charge post without its own large kit inside. A central unit supplies the power to several dispensers.
- Does depot charging only work in regional traffic?
- Almost half of all heavy trucks in Germany run regionally (within 300 km), Smatrics says. Longer day tours work if trucks top up between several depots.
- What is shared depot charging?
- If spare capacity is free in your depot, known partners or delivering hauliers can charge there too, Smatrics says. Your own fleet has priority though.
