A 1 MW charging station for electric trucks has been officially inaugurated at the Bolzano South exit of the Brenner motorway, marking a significant milestone in the electrification of heavy-duty transport in Italy.
The installation, developed by Alpitronic in partnership with Brennerautobahn AG, is located at the Firmian car park and forms part of the HYC1000 system.
This is the first megawatt-capable charging station in the country and one of the first along a key European freight corridor. The site includes a power cabinet with 1000 kW output, compatible with both MCS and CCS standards, enabling high-power charging in 30 to 40 minutes.
According to the companies involved, the system is designed for maximum operational efficiency, addressing the specific needs of long-haul logistics where downtime has direct economic implications.
The site is also scalable and can be expanded with a second megawatt unit if required.
The event coincided with another milestone in the region: FERCAM’s deployment of its first Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, an electric truck optimised for long-distance routes. The vehicle will primarily operate along the Brenner corridor, delivering cargo to Daimler.
The eActros 600 features a 621 kWh battery and a range of up to 500 km, and is pre-configured for megawatt charging via MCS. It currently operates using CCS but is ready for the next-generation standard as infrastructure evolves.
“One-megawatt charging is a game changer for long-distance transport,” said Johann Friedrich Harder, Corporate Fleet Director at FERCAM. “It significantly enhances the operational capacity of electric trucks by drastically reducing charging times.”
FERCAM began its electrification efforts two years ago with the eActros 300, which was primarily used for short-distance transport due to its more limited range. The introduction of the 600 model marks what the company describes as a qualitative leap in its strategy.
“This vehicle is not a retrofit of a diesel truck,” said Hannes Baumgartner, CEO of FERCAM. “It was developed from the ground up for electric propulsion. With the eActros 600, we complete a circle that started in 2017 with the order of the Tesla Semi.”
The synergy between vehicle technology and charging infrastructure is central to the company’s decarbonisation strategy. FERCAM emphasised that such advances are only possible through close cooperation with stakeholders including Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Alpitronic, and the Brenner motorway operator.
Local authorities were also involved in supporting the project, recognising its strategic relevance for reducing CO₂ emissions along one of the most important north-south logistics corridors in Europe.
FERCAM aims to integrate electric trucks into its high-demand operations, using the Bolzano installation as a cornerstone for future expansion. The combination of megawatt-level charging and long-range EVs is expected to significantly increase the viability of electric logistics in Alpine and cross-border freight sectors.
