Addressing the Lack of Charging Infrastructure
Truck manufacturer MAN (Volkswagen Group) and energy company E.ON have announced their ambitious plan to build 170 electric truck charging stations, equipped with 400 charging points, across Europe. This initiative aims to address the continent’s current lack of charging infrastructure for electric trucks.
Rapid Deployment Timeline
The first 80 stations are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, according to a joint statement by the two German companies.
Of the planned stations, 125 will be located in Germany, with the remaining stations distributed across Austria, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
High-Power Charging for Efficient Refueling
Each station will be equipped with multiple charging points, each boasting a capacity of 400 kW. This high-power charging capability will enable an average electric truck to recharge for a range of up to 300 kilometers in approximately 45 minutes.
The charging stations will be accessible to electric trucks from various manufacturers, promoting interoperability and convenience for EV truck drivers.
Meeting EU Emissions Targets
Like the rest of the industry, MAN, a subsidiary of Volkswagen’s Traton Group, is actively pursuing electrification to comply with the European Union’s ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 65% by 2035.
MAN estimates that 50,000 charging points are needed to support the widespread adoption of electric trucks. However, only a limited number of stations have been installed on European roads so far.
Collaborative Efforts to Expand Charging Infrastructure
Traton has already co-founded the joint venture Milence with Daimler and Volvo Group in 2022, aiming to establish 1,700 charging points for electric trucks at approximately 300 stations by 2027. Currently, only three stations are operational, according to their website.
The industry is advocating for public funding to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure. Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN, emphasized the urgent need for policymakers’ support in building a large-scale charging network.
Importance of Public Charging Network
Kim Kohlmeyer, an expert from the NGO Transport & Environment, highlighted the necessity of a public charging network, in addition to private charging facilities at transport companies, to enable the operation of more long-distance electric trucks.
However, she also noted that the majority of charging is expected to occur at private depots rather than public stations.
Growing Adoption of Electric Trucks
While less than 12,000 electric trucks were sold in Europe between 2018 and 2023, the NGO anticipates a significant increase in sales in the coming years. This growth underscores the importance of expanding charging infrastructure to support the transition to electric commercial vehicles.