Charging Network Planned for European Heavy-Duty Truck Routes

The MACBETH charging network will serve heavy-duty transport trucks, delivery vehicles, and lighter-duty EVs along major transportation corridors across Europe.

News Jun 09, 2025 by Karen Hanson

As European companies strive to meet stricter decarbonization regulations, many are electrifying their vehicles. From heavy-duty transport to delivery vans, electric trucks are growing more widespread. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, electric fleets must increase from 13,500 in 2024 to 400,000 by 2030 to meet goals. To keep those e-trucks moving, charging infrastructure must also expand.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, along with 19 companies, universities, and research centers, will work together to develop a comprehensive megawatt charging network throughout Europe by 2030. The European Commission will fund €10 million for Multipoint MegAwatt Charging for Battery Electric Truck Hubs, or MACBETH.

Milence is a MACBETH contributor. Image used courtesy of Milence

About MACBETH

The project aims to install multi-user charging hubs along the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) Network corridors and in terminals and depots in multiple countries throughout Europe.

Yancho Todorov, senior scientist and project coordinator, said in a press release that the group plans to investigate various hub designs and technical aspects, including hardware systems, plug standards, and robotics.

The project identified five specific objectives:

Develop a scalable framework for megawatt charging systems (MCS) to accommodate higher-power charging.
Create advanced grid management strategies, including bidirectional charging
Install MCS hubs along TEN-T corridors to serve EVs from passenger to heavy-duty trucks
Plan operational management strategies for MCS hubs
Consider the diverse uses to optimize infrastructure sizing and placement

The MACBETH project runs from February 2025 to January 2029 and contributes to the European Union’s European Green Deal goal to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.

The Pilot Programs and Innovations

The project will kick off with large-scale pilots in the Nordics and the Netherlands. The pilots will test hybrid charging stations for private EVs and heavy- and medium-duty transport vehicles. The test will allow the consortium to research the charging design, operational efficiency, and safety.

Nordics pilot goals. Image used courtesy of MACBETH Project

In the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, EV charger developer Milence will establish a reliable, user-friendly charging hub for heavy-duty EVs. The hubs, located in a high-demand area near the TEN-T corridor, will use 4 x 400 kW CCS chargers and 4 x 1.2 MW MCS chargers. The pilot will collaborate with Sennder to charge its EV truck fleet and with MAN, which will provide an electric truck for freight hauling use during the demonstration.

Netherlands pilot. Image used courtesy of MACBETH Project

The pilot will also use robotic charging to automatically connect the MCS to the truck’s charging port. Netherlands-based Rocsys will provide the hands-free robotic system. Joost van der Weijde, Rocsys cofounder, said the roboticized charging arm will increase productivity and safety.

“Currently, drivers must exit their vehicles, handle heavy charging cables, and interrupt their break time,” van der Weijde said in a press release. “By automating the charging process, we’re addressing critical ergonomic, operational, and safety challenges in electric heavy-duty transport.”