Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck, the TRATON GROUP, and Volvo Group, continues its expansion in Germany and opens its first public charging hub exclusively for electric trucks in the Ruhr region in the presence of Mona Neubaur, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
Strategically located on the northern edge of the Ruhr area, the hub serves as an important stop for heavy-duty electric vehicles along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in western Germany. The newly built hub features six CCS (Combined Charging System) charging stations with up to 400 kW. Charging capacity will be increased in the second phase with the addition of a Megawatt Charging System (MCS) solution. To support driver comfort and rest, amenities include restrooms, showers, and vending machines.
Recklinghausen is Milence’s fifth charging hub to officially open in Germany. With the launch of the new hubs, the company reinforces its leading role in building a Europe-wide charging infrastructure for electric trucks.
All new hubs are located at high-traffic transport nodes and enable electric freight transport along the TEN-T core network corridors “Rhine–Alpine” and “Scandinavian–Mediterranean”:
– Recklinghausen (near A2 and 6 CCS charging points) connects the North Sea ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp with Hanover, Berlin, and Poland
– Koblenz (near A61 and 8 CCS charging points) links the Cologne and Frankfurt regions
– Kirchberg an der Jagst (near A6 and 8 CCS charging points) connects southern Germany with the French border, as well as the Rhine-Neckar and Nuremberg metropolitan regions
Strategic Expansion of Charging Infrastructure for Electric Freight Transport
With one of the highest shares of long-haul electric trucks in Europe and a central location at the heart of the continent’s logistics network, Germany is a key market for the electrification of road freight transport. Following the opening of these new hubs, Milence will triple the number of charging points it operates, significantly expanding its network for e-trucks in Germany.
The company is significantly contributing to supporting the transport sector’s transformation in line with the pace of market ramp-up. By the end of 2025, Germany will be one of the largest markets in the Milence network, with a total of eight operational hubs.
“Germany is the heart and central hub of European road freight transport. Today’s opening of our hub in Recklinghausen marks an important milestone in closing infrastructure gaps for e-mobility in western Germany,” says Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence.
“With the first charging hub for electric trucks in North Rhine-Westphalia, we are taking a major step towards climate-friendly freight transport. Here, electric trucks can be charged with clean electricity, helping protect the environment and reduce noise in our cities and communities. One thing is clear: the future of logistics is electric. That’s why we are actively supporting this transition – for better climate protection, a strong and competitive economy, and a future-ready North Rhine-Westphalia,” said Mona Neubaur, NRW Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
More planning certainty and seamless charging for fleet operators
Across Europe, electric freight corridors are taking shape, including long-haul routes such as Barcelona–Lyon, Paris–Hanover, and Antwerp–Stockholm, the latter being the first corridor equipped with megawatt charging systems (MCS). Milence’s hubs serve as key stops on these routes and lay the foundation for the first European electric corridors. Logistics companies can plan their routes and benefit from affordable and reliable public charging.
By the end of 2025, Milence aims to operate more than 30 charging hubs across nine markets. In line with the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), a total of 284 MCS chargers are planned at 71 sites in ten EU Member States by 2027.
Milence charging hubs not only offer fast and affordable charging but also extensive driver amenities. Most hubs provide access to restrooms, showers, lounges, and vending machines. A booking tool is also being introduced to simplify charge planning and further improve operational efficiency for fleet operators.
Accessible and seamless charging experience
The hub in Recklinghausen provides a fast and reliable charging experience for all trucks regardless of brand. Milence ensures accessibility and transparency for all users with a robust payment system. Partnerships with leading e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs) enable drivers to pay using a variety of charging cards. Direct payment options via payment terminal or using the Milence Card are also available. The default charging tariff is €0,399 per kWh (excluding VAT).
[source: Milence]
