Heavy-duty truck manufacturers plan European high-performance electric charging network
Three leading commercial vehicle manufacturers Volvo Group, Daimler Truck and the TRATON GROUP have signed a non-binding agreement to install and operate a high-performance public charging network for battery electric heavy-duty long-haul trucks and coaches across Europe.
The joint aim is to initiate and accelerate the build-up of charging infrastructure and to support the EU’s transformation to climate-neutral transportation. It also supports a key target in the UK Government’s recently published Transport Decarbonisation Plan to phase out fossil fuel heavy duty trucks by 2040.
The agreement provides the foundation of a joint venture, equally owned by the three parties, which will become operational next year. The parties intend to invest Euro 500 million to install and operate at least 1,700 high-performance charging points close to strategic roads as well as at logistic and destination points, within five years from the establishment of the JV.
The aim over time is to increase significantly the number of charging points by seeking additional partners and public funding. The future JV is planned to operate under its own corporate identity and will be based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The future JV will act as catalyst and enabler for realising the European Union’s Green Deal for a carbon-neutral freight transportation by 2050.
Matthias Gründler, CEO TRATON GROUP: “For the TRATON GROUP, it is clear that the future of transport is electric. This requires the rapid development of publicly accessible charging points, especially for long-distance heavy-duty transport. We are now moving forward together with our partners Daimler Truck and Volvo Group to make this high-performance network a reality as quickly as possible. We now make the first step to accelerate the transition towards sustainable, fossil free transport.”
The JV promises a customer centric approach offering battery electric vehicle fleet operators both fast charging tailored to the 45-minute mandatory rest period in Europe for long-distance transport as well as overnight charging. The network will be open and accessible to all commercial vehicles in Europe, regardless of brand.