Submission “Navigating the Transition: The role of an orchestrator in the shift to electric vehicles in the Heavy-Duty truck Ecosystem”

The transition from heavy-duty trucks (HDTs) with internal combustion engines to electric propulsion is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. While the role of orchestrators in ecosystems has been widely explored, there is a lack of detailed understanding of orchestrators’ specific tasks and leverage effects within innovation ecosystems, especially in socio-technical transitions such as the shift toward electric vehicle HDTs (EV-HDTs). To investigate this research gap, the authors of this study performed a single-case study with 29 high-quality expert interviews within the German EV-HDT transportation ecosystem, identifying 33 specific orchestrator tasks that were aggregated into the socio-technical transition framework of the EV-HDT transportation ecosystem. The findings highlight the importance of open innovation, an innovation ecosystem, and orchestrators’ role within socio-technical frameworks that drive sustainable transitions. The study contributes by providing the first comprehensive analysis of orchestrator tasks in the EV-HDT transportation ecosystem and extending existing literature with additional tasks: promoting ecosystem-wide solutions across borders and establishing sustainable systems that progressively reduce the need for active orchestration. It highlights orchestrators’ critical role in building an efficient charging infrastructure, advancing battery technology, and advocating policy incentives to overcome adoption issues. Beyond the traditional notion of orchestrators as ecosystem leaders, their role in fostering knowledge mobility, promoting education and entrepreneurial activities, and catalyzing commercialization opportunities is emphasized. Finally, orchestrators are situated in socio-technical change and their role in coordinating efforts to embed sustainable practices while promoting transformation processes is examined.