Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck, the TRATON GROUP and Volvo Group, has expanded its operations to the French market with the completion of the first phase of its charging hub in Heudebouville, 40 kilometres south of the city of Rouen.
The second phase, scheduled to be operational at the end of the year, will include additional charging bays and other amenities.
Anja van Niersen, CEO at Milence, expressed her enthusiasm for this second milestone, stating: “With the opening of Heudebouville Milence opens its second charging hub in Europe and expands its operations to the French market.”
“This is one example of our roadmap for the future. Over the past two years we have extensively prepared our organisation, developed the right technology, and secured sites in 15 countries. We are now in full roll-out and this is just the beginning. Further expansion in several key locations along major logistics routes will follow in the coming months.“
The hub, Milence’s first in the country, is strategically located in the logistics district of Agglomeration Seine Eure.
This is an important route for haulers and heavy-duty vehicle drivers who travel between Paris and other key logistic hubs in the Normandy Region, such as Le Havre (France’s largest container port), Caen, Dieppe, and Rouen.
The hub is located only four minutes from the A13 motorway, supporting critical logistics routes between these locations.
The site is secured and easily accessible for trucks, making it a convenient and safe stopping point for drivers without deviating from their normal route.
The strategic placement of the hub is testament to the in-depth research Milence undertakes to gain an understanding of local and regional logistical requirements and the sector’s needs when scouting new locations.
Two phases of development
The charging hub in Heudebouville will be developed in two distinct phases. With the opening of the site, the first phase is completed.
The station features four high-performance Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers on four charging bays.
The hub can be recognised by the distinctive Milence arches and comprehensive site design that caters for trucks as well as drivers.
There are several third-party facilities nearby, including toilets, showers, and a restaurant.
Milence plans a swift transition to Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology as soon as it becomes available.
The second phase, scheduled to be completed at the end of the year, will include additional charging bays with MCS technology, and Milence-operated facilities such as toilets and showers tailored to the needs of drivers.
A charging hub open to all
The new hub located in the Agglomeration Seine Eure along with all other Milence charging hubs are open to all trucks regardless of brand.
To ensure accessibility for every vehicle on the market, the firm has signed contracts with various e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs) in Europe. Their cards can be used for payment.
Additional agreements will be signed in the near future.
To further ensure a seamless and reliable charging process, the company has developed a user-friendly app for its customers, allowing them to easily locate their closest hub and make payments across locations.
Milence’s default charging tariff is set at EUR 0,4 (0,399 EUR) per kilowatt-hou excluding VAT and transactional costs. This charging tariff will apply to all hubs in all countries operated by the firm.
The applicable tariff can be found in the app and displayed at the charging station.
Any changes to the tariffs will be communicated through Milence’s official channels.
