News

The Ministry of Transport and seven other departments have issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Integrated Transport Hub Development, setting out measures to develop zero-carbon freight hubs. The plan promotes the use of new energy heavy-duty trucks at hubs, the electrification of logistics facilities and equipment, and improvements to charging and battery-swapping infrastructure.

Energy infrastructure is to be developed around the operating characteristics of freight yards, loading and unloading areas, and parking areas. This connects vehicle deployment with the facilities needed to support it, placing both freight transport and on-site logistics operations within the scope of the green transition.

For hub operators, a central implementation issue will be how closely charging and battery-swapping facilities match vehicle movements and equipment use. Parking periods, loading schedules and the location of energy demand could influence where replenishment facilities are most useful. If these elements are coordinated, electrification could fit more readily into routine freight handling.

The inclusion of logistics equipment also broadens the practical scope beyond truck replacement. Electrifying vehicles while converting on-site equipment from oil to electricity could create overlapping power needs, making coordination between operating areas and energy infrastructure an important consideration.

The plan establishes a policy direction for new energy heavy-duty truck applications at freight hubs. The pace of deployment and its effect on daily operations will depend on subsequent implementation. Further details on facility construction and vehicle deployment would help show how the zero-carbon hub objective translates into operating practice.