Belgium plans to open 30 public loading bays for e-trucks over next two years
Belgium plans to open 30 public loading bays for e-trucks in the next two years to help boost the electrification of freight transport. The first of these bays will be inaugurated in the port of Antwerp next month, reports De Tijd. The charging stations for electric trucks will open along motorways, in industrial areas and at logistic hubs.
Expansion in Flanders
Several companies will be involved with the supply and expansion of these public loading bays. Milence has a budget of 500 million euros to build a network of 1,700 truck charging points in Europe by 2027. They will turn their attention to the port of Ghent early next year following the initial two loading docks in the port of Antwerp.
The Dutch charging station developer Fastned plans to expand some existing fast-charge areas in Flanders by adding bays for passenger cars and a separate section for electric trucks on both sides of the E19 motorway in Peutie.
Waregem petrol station operator G&V Energy Group has auctioned around 15 million euros to equip 16 of its truck filling stations with ultra-fast chargers within two years. Two major fuelling concessions along the E17 motorway in Marke near Kortrijk, which the company is taking over from Shell, will also be equipped with truck charging infrastructure.
Diesel outnumbers electric
Demand for electric transport is expected to grow systematically, given the more demanding European emissions standards for truck makers and the sinking prices of batteries and e-trucks. However, diesel trucks still far outnumber e-trucks as the latter costs two to three times its counterpart. In the first three months of 2024, Viapass counted 150,000 diesel trucks every day on Belgian roads subject to road pricing versus 118 e-trucks. The number of e-trucks in a Belgian carrier's fleet is usually limited to two, the maximum number for which the company can apply for federal subsidies.
Chinese company Windrose is considering building a factory in Antwerp with the promise of long-haul electric trucks with batteries for 250,000 euros.
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