Anja van Niersen from Milence: Driving Europe’s electric (trucking) future

At IAA Transportation in Hanover, Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence, shared bold plans for establishing a comprehensive truck charging network across Europe. With 1,700 stations planned by 2027 and a long-term goal of 20,000 chargers by 2030, she acknowledges the need for competition in the market. But can Milence really deliver on its ambitious vision?

Milence, a company dedicated to developing a European-wide charging network for electric trucks, is setting high standards. Speaking at the IAA Transportation fair, CEO Anja van Niersen outlined the company’s goal of establishing 1,700 charging stations by 2027. However, this is just the beginning. “The long-term goal is to have a reasonable charging network across Europe in 30 countries,” she explained, noting that a total of 20,000 charge points will be needed by 2030 to cater to the growing demand.

The company is not alone in this mission. Van Niersen welcomed other competitors, stating, “We would be needing roughly about 20,000 charge points… we might be able to do maybe 2,000 or 3,000 of those. So we need a lot more competition in the market.”

Standardisation and future challenges

As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, Milence is already preparing for future standards. Van Niersen pointed out that their charging stations will support megawatt charging (MCS), which offers faster and more reliable charging. “We are not waiting till the formal standardisation,” she said, revealing that the company is set to begin building MCS-ready charging parks soon. While acknowledging the risks of moving ahead without complete standardisation, she believes it’s a necessary step to meet the needs of long-haul truckers.

Nonetheless, the road ahead is not without obstacles. The complexities of operating in different European countries pose significant challenges. “Setting up infrastructure across Europe is dealing with 30 different countries, 30 different regulations,” Van Niersen said, advocating for a more unified European permitting process.

Looking ahead, Milence plans to simplify charging access with innovations like number plate recognition and a booking system for transport companies. This approach aims to make the experience smoother for drivers, ensuring that they have a reserved spot when they arrive. As Van Niersen puts it, “We know also what the amount of energy is that they are going to take… it becomes way more predictable.”