The research activity focused on the evaluation of the feasibility and impacts of a potential electrification of heavy freight transport, lake transport and large ships berthed in ports. As far as heavy freight transport is concerned, the technical-economic analyses carried out in 2017 and 2018 on catenary technology were resumed, updating the evaluation of the investment required to provide infrastructure for a motorway section with the inclusion of the discounted capital cost and differentiating the operating costs for the maintenance of traditional diesel vehicles from those of hybrid-electric vehicles. Two possible architectures for system management were also analyzed, highlighting the issues relating to financing, ownership, concessions, relationships with DSOs and invoicing, which were included into the current national and European regulatory framework of the electricity and motorway sector. The state of the art of alternative fuels capable of providing a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the transport sector (Liquid Natural Gas, Hydrogen, Synthetic fuels) was analyzed and their energy efficiency was assessed.

As regards lake transport, the activity firstly allowed us to identify the characteristics of the vessels used on the main Lombard lakes, including both the technical aspects (engine power, displacement, number of people and vehicles transported) and service features (number of trips, duration of stops, etc.). A first methodology was set up that allowed for the calculation of the energy and fuel consumption of the vessels, based on the schematization of some ‘typical trips.’ Six electrification strategies were then proposed, to be analyzed in depth in the next research period.

Finally, the topic of the potential electrification of large berthed ships (cold ironing technology) was addressed, with particular attention to the definition of the state of the art in Italy and in the world. The activity carried out allowed to identify the main parameters for this analysis and the main reference sources for the necessary input data. The bibliographic research highlighted the presence of some studies of particular interest that can provide important information both on the characteristics and the way large ships are used in ports, and on the technical characteristics and costs of the potential construction of a shore-connection infrastructure.