A dedicated charging corridor for electric heavy goods vehicles was inaugurated on Friday, 4th October 2024, at the La Galande rest area in Réau, south-east of Paris (A5b motorway).
This milestone completes the deployment of a unique charging network dedicated to heavy mobility on the motorway between Lyon and Paris (A5b and A6), designed by APRR and ENGIE Vianeo.
The five ENGIE Vianeo stations along the Lyon-Paris corridor, located in the heavy goods vehicle areas of APRR motorway rest areas, are all equipped with ultra-high-power charging stations.
With two high-tech Combined Charging System (CCS) charging points ranging from 400 to 480 kilowatts, they allow vehicles to charge up to approximately 300 km in 45 minutes.
This is the first time in Europe that ultra-fast charging stations of such power, enabling simultaneous charging of two electric trucks or coaches, have been deployed every 150 km on a motorway network.
An emergency charging station is also available at the site to ensure optimal availability and continuous service under all circumstances, which is crucial for transport operators.
This setup offers long-distance transport professionals the guarantee of a quick recharge at a frequency suited to their needs throughout their journeys.
The project at the La Galande area was completed in less than 12 months, a short timeframe given its technical and logistical complexity.
A First in France: A 100% Electric Heavy Goods Vehicle Charging Corridor Every 150 km
This network, established between Lyon and Paris in both directions, perfectly meets the current autonomy requirements of heavy goods vehicles.
All stations are scalable and pre-equipped to add new charging points or increase their power.
This French first makes ENGIE Vianeo a pioneer in the promising market of heavy goods vehicles, both in terms of volume and traffic.
The project aims to reassure transport operators about the feasibility of switching to eTrucks for long-distance journeys, thanks to a powerful and reliable network that accelerates the decarbonisation of freight transport.
The newly created network will significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport, a sector that currently has a high environmental impact: heavy vehicles account for 40% of transport-related emissions in France.
Supporting the electrification of heavy mobility is therefore a crucial part of decarbonisation.
It is estimated that this corridor will prevent 40,000 tonnes of CO2 over more than ten years and eliminate particulate matter and NOx emissions associated with internal combustion engines.
A National and European Ambition for the Electrification of Heavy Mobility
Ultimately, ENGIE Vianeo’s ambition is to create a truly national network of electric charging stations for heavy goods vehicles by replicating the Lyon-Paris corridor on all the major motorway routes in France.
In addition, a reservation system for charging slots for heavy goods vehicle drivers will soon be available, allowing transport operators to better plan their journeys and further reduce waiting times at charging stations.
As trucks do not stop at national borders, ENGIE Vianeo also aims to create European-scale electric truck corridors, extending to neighbouring countries whose borders with France serve as key points for heavy goods traffic.
Frank Lacroix, Deputy CEO of ENGIE, in charge of Energy Solutions activities: “One year after its launch, initially focused on light mobility, ENGIE Vianeo is now leading the way in the decarbonisation of heavy mobility.”
“To enable transport operators to expand their electric fleets on the Lyon-Paris axis, we provide them with the necessary power, reliability, and network coverage,” he adds.
Guillaume Hérent, CEO of APRR-AREA: “Since December 2022, APRR-AREA has been the first fully equipped motorway network with electric charging stations for light vehicles.”
He continues: “Today, we are proud to be working alongside ENGIE Vianeo to decarbonise all forms of mobility, with the development of France’s first electric corridor dedicated to long-distance heavy goods vehicles and coaches.”
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