Milence, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, the TRATON GROUP, and Volvo Group, has opened its largest charging hub for electric lorries in the port of Antwerp-Bruges.
The new charging hub, located at the lorry park Ketenis, and an upcoming facility at the lorry park of Goordijk, support the green corridor initiative between Antwerp and Bruges ports. This initiative is part of the broader sustainability goals of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“In line with our role in the renewable energy transition, we decided to act and, with Milence, provide charging hubs in the Antwerp port area. We hope to inspire other ports and logistics areas,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges at the opening. Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence, added:
“Situated on the Rhine-Alpine corridor, one of Europe’s busiest freight routes, this charging infrastructure is essential for sustainable goods transport across the continent”.
The Ketenis hub features ten Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers, powering twenty bays with up to 400kW per bay, marking Milence’s largest facility in Europe and its first in Belgium. A second hub at Goordijk, with five CCS chargers powering ten bays, is set to open later this year. Both hubs plan to transition to Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) as soon as the technology is available.
“These charging hubs make truck parks in the Antwerp port area a critical link in electric truck transport. Together with Milence, we remove a significant barrier for domestic and foreign transporters to switch to electric trucks. Road transport remains vital for our port, ensuring fast and timely deliveries and efficient last-mile logistics. Our port is Flanders’ economic engine, and a more sustainable, electric engine is better for everyone,” said Annick De Ridder, President of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
The new charging hub is located in a lorry park equipped with amenities for drivers, including secure access, lighting, camera surveillance, Wi-Fi, and sanitary facilities.
