Daimler, Volvo and Traton invest €500m in Europe-wide electric truck charging network
The vehicle manufacturing companies will launch a joint venture based in Amsterdam and invest in a robust electric charging infrastructure for trucks to reduce the freight industry’s reliance on diesel.
Electric truck charging infrastructure to beat “range anxiety”
Truck manufacturers Daimler, Volvo and Traton have announced they will form a joint venture to create an electric charging network for battery-powered long-haul trucks and coaches in Europe.
The venture will be based in Amsterdam, both a major logistics hub and one of the world’s leading proponents of electric vehicles and smart mobility.
The companies will jointly invest €500 million in building at least 1,700 charging points by 2027. The number of points is expected to grow significantly over time with the addition of partners as well as public funding, the companies said.
The truck industry is gradually easing its reliance on diesel engines in the face of tightening emission regulations. The European Union has set a goal for carbon-neutral freight transportation by 2050. One of the biggest roadblocks has been the lack of a charging infrastructure for heavy duty vehicles, creating so-called “range anxiety” for hauliers. Meanwhile the availability of charging stations for electric passenger cars is continually increasing – Amsterdam has the world’s highest concentration of charging points.
“It is the joint aim of Europe’s truck manufacturers to achieve climate neutrality by 2050,” Martin Daum, CEO Daimler Truck, said in a statement. “However, it is vital that building up the right infrastructure goes hand in hand with putting CO2-neutral trucks on the road.”
On the road to eco-friendly freight
Amsterdam has been at the forefront of the smart mobility industry for many years, thanks to its low car dependency and early adoption of electric alternatives. Amsterdam was recently listed in Deloitte’s City Mobility Index 2020 as having one of the world’s most robust and future-ready mobility sectors.
Its logistics sector is increasingly committed to sustainable solutions to meet the city’s green ambitions and wider efforts to combat climate change. In May, Amsterdam-based TMA Logistics and Unilever joined a pilot project by global shipping company Samskip to use fossil-free biofuel in trucks transporting goods, saving up to 14,500kg of CO2 emissions. The Port of Amsterdam is also undergoing an energy transition and has committed to stop handling coal by 2030.