OVERLOADED AND ENERGIZED: ELECTRIC POWER OVERFLOWS EUROPEAN PORTS

In 2023, the EU imported 1.3 million electric vehicles, an increase of 25% compared to 2022. This meteoric growth has saturated European ports, notably Antwerp-Bruges and Bremerhaven, where the number of vehicles on standby has risen by 15%. Rotterdam is also suffering from processing times that are 30% longer than in previous years. Port storage is therefore becoming a real headache, with vehicles sometimes being held up for over a year.

LACK OF LOGISTICAL ADAPTATION, THE MAIN CAUSE OF BLOCKAGES

Port congestion can be explained by several factors. Firstly, European demand for electric vehicles has exploded, particularly with the increase in Chinese imports. However, logistics infrastructures are not adapted to this increase. In Bremerhaven, a delivery of 3,000 BYD vehicles was stored for several weeks, with some vehicles remaining in the warehouses for over a year. This prolonged storage exposes the cars to a number of risks, including damage to the battery, which can lose up to 20% of its capacity. Mould has also begun to appear inside of the vehicles. Not to mention other potential problems with tires, seals and other fluids linked to this immobility…

Distribution management difficulties are also a key factor: according to expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, brands like BYD lack a “coherent European distribution strategy”. This disorganization contributes to the build-up of stocks in ports.

Finally, the reduction in subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles in certain European countries has weakened demand, exacerbating port saturation.

SOLUTIONS IN SIGHT: LOCAL PRODUCTION AND REORGANIZATION

Faced with this impasse, solutions are emerging. Several Chinese automakers are planning to produce directly in Europe. The BYD group is planning to build a plant in Hungary, capable of producing 100,000 vehicles a year. Nio is also following this path, with plans to manufacture in Germany and Poland. This local production will enable us to bypass customs duties and reduce logistics costs.

At the same time, better organization of logistics flows and investment in port infrastructure should reduce storage and distribution times, and minimize the risks associated with prolonged storage of this type of vehicle.