Private truck charging initiative PVSM Energy launched in Germany

The logistics company TST wants to invest 150 million euros to build fast-charging stations for electric lorries in Germany together with local utility EWR. The partners envision a network along Germany's main motorways with the truck hubs remaining accessible to third-parties.

As Handelsblatt magazine reports, the new joint venture dubbed PVSM Energy is looking to install 41 charging stations by the end of 2025. Large batteries on sites shall boost charging powers of up to 400 kW and store up to three megawatts of green electricity. TST and EWR make no mention of megawatt charging via the incoming MCS standard; the planned capacity of 400 kW indicates CCS charge points for now.

EWR announced in December that it had founded a JV with TST to combine “expertise in the expansion of renewable energies with a business model for solar power production, battery storage and charging infrastructure”. Concrete infrastructure plans were not mentioned at the time. In December, a large-scale photovoltaic system for TST’s logistics centres was still on the agenda.

Handelsblatt has now revealed the timetable for the charging infrastructure project: the first e-truck fast chargers are to be installed near the A1, A2, A5, A6, A61, and A67 motorways by 2024. The first one is due for operation in the town of Worms in May. Firm commitments have also been made for sites in Hamburg, Bremen and at the Kamen junction.

“We will also open up access to our charging network to third parties,” says TST founder and Managing Director Frank Schmidt.

At the same time, TST has its fleet in mind, which is currently being electrified with EV tractor units from Daimler Truck and Scania. The fleet size is unknown, but TST employs 3,500 people at 80 locations in Germany, Europe and the USA.

Charging stations for electric trucks on the long haul remain rare – many operators use electric trucks on regular routes that allow charging at the depot. Examples include Aral Pulse’s Rhine-Alpine corridor, which spans 600 km. Two charging stations are positioned at each of Aral’s depots in a way that heavy commercial vehicles can easily access them. Shell also has a charging station suitable for lorries at the port of Hamburg.

However, advances like the TST and EWR project will change this slowly. Also, the Milence truck charging joint venture between Daimler Truck, the Volvo Group and Traton may provide a significant boost: Milence is planning 1,700 lorry charging points in Europe.

With reporting by Sebastian Schaal, Germany.

handelsblatt.com