BP Pulse, the EV charging arm of oil and gas super major BP, has unveiled Europe’s first public charging corridor for electric trucks, which has been built along a major logistics route in Germany.
Built along the Rhine-Alpine corridor, one of Europe’s busiest road freight routes, the new EV charging corridor will consist of eight dedicated e-truck charging stations with an undetermined number of ultra-fast 300kw charge points per station.
BP Pulse did not disclose the exact number of chargers that have been installed, but the accompanying press photo shows two chargers, with three connection points each.
The new chargers have been installed at service stations operated by Aral, BP’s local German retail brand. Each 300kW charge point is capable of charging more than 20 electric trucks per charger each day, and can charge up to 200 kilometres in around 45 minutes using the ultra-fast charge points.
Planned along a 600 kilometre stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor, there are currently six charging stations deployed with another two to be opened at some point in the future. Once the final two stations are deployed, an electric truck will be able to cover over 600 kilometres across Germany.
“This is a significant moment for E-Trucks in Europe and an important step in our journey towards helping to decarbonise truck transportation,” said Nigel Head, EV truck director for Europe at BP Pulse.
“By electrifying this stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor with ultra-fast charging, bp is enabling EV Truck charging beyond “back to base” whilst rapidly learning customer insights which will directly inform our longer-term European network and proposition.
“Ultra-fast charging in the right locations, combined with depot and destination charging, is critical infrastructure to accelerate the electrification transition, unlocking the economic and environmental benefits of low-carbon commercial road freight and transport.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.