This is why, in 2022, Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and the Traton Group established the joint venture Milence to accelerate the building and operation of high-performance public charging stations across Europe.
Today, there are more than 6,000,000 heavy-duty trucks on European roads, handling around 80% of all road transport. To meet EU regulations and climate goals, many of these trucks will need to be replaced with zero emission vehicles, such as those offered by Volvo Group, over the coming decade.
As the number of zero emission trucks on the road increases, so must investment in charging infrastructure – something EU policymakers are beginning to understand. At present, Sweden has one of the highest electrification rates for heavy-duty transport in Europe, with over 900 electric long-haul trucks already on the road.
Milence represents a concerted effort by truck makers to meet the urgent need for fast charging along some of Europe’s busiest transport corridors. Milence charging hubs, which are available to all trucks and coaches regardless of brand, deliver a seamless charging experience, offering multiple payment methods and a range of facilities and additional services for truck drivers.
Milence’s ambitious plan is to build and operate 1,700 public chargers across Europe by 2027. A part of this plan includes the first MCS (Megawatt Charging System) corridor in Europe with at least 284 MCS charging points across 71 locations in 10 EU member states in line with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) call. The hub at Port of Antwerp Bruges is the starting point for one of the first corridors connecting Antwerp with Stockholm. The latest addition is the newly expanded charging hub in Landvetter, Sweden, where earlier this month MCS technology was demonstrated to the public for the first time — in collaboration with Volvo and the new Volvo FH Aero 600 km range with e-axle.
The adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) has increased in recent years, thanks to the growing number of charging stations for heavy duty trucks across the European continent, thanks in large part to private and industry investments. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), around 40,000 high-capacity charging points, which include semi-public stations, will be required by 2030, requiring upwards of €8 billion in EU investment each year to achieve that.
In the meantime, Milence is pioneering the rollout of new Megawatt Charging Systems across Europe.
So far Milence has built:
Milence is clear proof that working together with a clear goal can create immediate and lasting impact.