Powering Europe's Largest Public Charging Network
Milence is commited to fossil-free transport. As such, they are focused on creating green corridors for road transport that connect key logistics hubs. A significant milestone was the official opening of the first charging hub in Venlo, the Netherlands in early December. With the new Milence hub, Truck Parking Venlo is one of the the first secure truck parking facility in the Netherlands to offer charging solutions for electric trucks.
Venlo is a strategic logistics hub in Europe. The new hub has four charging bays with up to 400 kW of charging power, providing a reliable infrastructure for electric trucks. The site also features a number of high-quality amenities, aligning with Milence's rest and recharge initiative. In addition to the development of the charging hub at Truck Parking Venlo, Milence also announced a partnership with the port of Antwerp-Bruges. Under this partnership, Milence has been selected to establish two charging hubs at Truck Parking Goordijk and Keteni.
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The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the second-largest port in Europe, plays a pivotal role in facilitating international connections with more than 300 liner services and 800 destinations. The charging hubs at The Port of Antwerp-Bruges are scheduled to open in May 2024. These charging hubs will initially be equipped with 15 high-performance Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers, providing a total of 30 charging bays, and offering up to 6MW of charging power. Milence also plans a swift transition to Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology as soon as it becomes available.
The roll-out of these charging hubs reinforces Milence's commitment to a sustainable future, contributing to the effort to reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, the strategic choice for Venlo and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges aligns with Milence’s focus to create green corridors for road transport, connecting key logistics hubs in Europe, including major seaports and airports.
A Revolutionary Leap in Charging Capabilities
Besides creating a green roadmap throughout Europe, Milence is at the forefront of the advancement of charging technology. The company is dedicated to the swift transition from Combined Charging System (CCS) to Megawatt Charging System (MCS) and wants to push the boundaries of charging capabilities and improving communication. Earlier this year, Milence and Hitachi Energy commenced a partnership to develop two MCS prototypes, scheduled to be delivered in two phases.
During Solutrans 2023, Milence unveiled the first MCS prototype. This prototype will undergo rigorous testing with different truck models in the upcoming months, to reach a charging capacity of 1.000 MW using ISO15118-20 communication. The MCS is designed to meet the demands of commercial trucks and high-power applications.
There are many advantages of MCS, including faster charging times of up to ~3.5 MW, greater efficiency, and enhanced safety measures. The impact on the transportation industry is significant, promoting operational efficiency, expanding infrastructure, and delivering environmental benefits through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Anja van Niersen, CEO at Milence, is confident that the set objective of having at least 1.700 charging points operational in Europe by 2027 can still be met, stating, “We are happy with the progress we made this last year. The new charging hubs opened in Venlo as well as the over 10 contracted sites, including our largest one at Port of Antwerp-Burges, together with the development of the MCS charger are proof of our commitment to creating a green roadmap of a reliable charging network open to all vehicles. This marks the beginning of a new era in sustainable transport. The journey to sustainable transportation across Europe has officially begun.”
Milence's recent strides showcase their commitment to a sustainable and fossil-free future for heavy-duty transport, setting new standards in charging infrastructure and technology. As these initiatives unfold, Milence continues to lead the way towards a greener and more environmentally conscious future in the heavy-duty transportation industry.