HPC charging network for e-trucks: Traton, Daimler Trucks, and Volvo establish joint venture

Together, the three commercial vehicle manufacturers Traton Group, Daimler Truck, and Volvo Group aim to establish and operate a public high-performance charging network for battery-electric heavy long-haul trucks and coaches in Europe. A corresponding binding agreement to establish a joint venture has now been signed. This step follows an initial memorandum of understanding between the three participating companies from July 2021.

"With our announcement today, we are sending a strong signal to the transport sector and society, as it underscores the sustainable commitment of all partners to locally CO2-neutral trucks. The fact that three of the largest competitors in the truck and vehicle technology sector are working together to build the necessary charging infrastructure is extremely noteworthy. Together with the Volvo Group and the Traton Group, we are sending a clear message to all relevant stakeholders to follow our example and act now," says Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck.

The planned joint venture is to be held equally by the three parties and will commence operations after completing all regulatory approval procedures in 2022. The parties intend to invest a total of 500 million euros in this venture. Within five years of establishing the joint venture, at least 1,700 high-performance charging points for green electricity are to be created along and near highways, as well as at logistics hubs and unloading points.

“We firmly believe that the Traton Group, together with our brands Scania and MAN and the entire commercial vehicle industry, is part of the solution for a climate-neutral world. Collaborating with strong competitors like Daimler Truck and Volvo Group may seem unusual. However, the issue is of crucial importance, and through this unique collaboration, we will be able to take the transformative actions required to combat climate change more quickly and successfully. Our joint venture will strongly promote the rapid breakthrough of battery-electric trucks and coaches, the most efficient and sustainable transport solutions,” said Christian Levin, CEO of the Traton Group.

As part of a customer-centric approach, the parties consider different use cases. Fleet operators with battery-electric vehicles can utilize the legally required 45-minute driver rest period in Europe for charging - particularly in long-distance transport, the focus of the future joint venture – as well as overnight charging.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group, adds: "We are putting words into action. Our planned joint venture with Daimler Truck and the Traton Group represents an important step towards a more livable world. Innovative partnerships like this enable the urgently needed change, benefiting not only our customers but the entire industry. Our planned joint venture is both a historic milestone in the transformation towards fossil fuel-free transportation and a breakthrough that underscores the Volvo Group's commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and to a net-zero emissions fleet by no later than 2050."