Nationwide EV truck fast-charging network enters implementation: 4,200 charging points for electric trucks
The nationwide fast-charging network for battery-electric trucks is leaving the planning phase: on 15 September 2026 at IAA Transportation in Hannover, Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU), together with Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and Prof. Dr. Dirk Engelhardt, chairman of the board of the German Road Freight and Logistics Association (BGL), announced the start of the implementation phase. The federal government is funding it with around one billion euros.
"We are therefore making around one billion euros available to build a truck fast-charging network and are now starting the concrete implementation of fast-charging pillars at 124 uncommercialised rest areas", said Bilger. The network is intended to serve EV trucks along the main freight corridors — both for quick intermediate charging during statutory driving breaks and for overnight charging during longer rest periods.
The network in 30 seconds
Around 4,200 charging points at around 350 locations (225 commercialised + 124 uncommercialised rest areas) · roughly 1,800 MCS (Megawatt Charging System) + roughly 2,400 CCS (Combined Charging System) · Phase 1: 836 charging points at 124 uncommercialised rest areas, awarded at the end of June 2026 to five operators · around EUR 1bn in federal funding · target: full build-out by 2030.
Scope of the network
On current planning, the truck fast-charging network covers around 350 locations on federal land along the motorways. The split of charging power across two standards looks like this:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charging points in total | ~4,200 (by 2030) |
| Locations in total | ~350 (225 commercialised + 124 uncommercialised rest areas) |
| Charging standards | ~1,800 MCS (Megawatt Charging System) + ~2,400 CCS (Combined Charging System) |
| Phase 1 (started) | 836 charging points at 124 uncommercialised rest areas (447 MCS + 389 CCS) |
| Phase 1 contractors | Five operators, awarded at the end of June 2026 |
MCS (Megawatt Charging System) enables charging power of over 1 MW and can recharge heavy trucks in 20–45 minutes — which makes charging during driving breaks a realistic option for freight operations.
Timeline and next steps
- Phase 1 contract awarded (done): at the end of June 2026, the Federal Motorway Company (Autobahn GmbH) awarded the first 836 charging points at 124 uncommercialised rest areas to five operators — site-specific planning is now under way.
- First charging parks: the first charging parks are due to come online from 2027 (the timeframe the individual operators are providing).
- Phase 2 (in preparation): the second tender for the 225 commercialised rest areas is already in preparation, according to the BMV.
- Full build-out: by 2030, all around 4,200 charging points at the roughly 350 locations are to be in place.
Why two charging types?
MCS (Megawatt Charging System) enables charging power of over 1 MW — meaning a heavy truck can be charged in 20–45 minutes, e.g. during a driving break. CCS (Combined Charging System) is the established standard that covers the wider fleet. Together, the two make the network a seamlessly available supply for the electrified freight sector — today and for the coming generations of vehicles.
Who is behind the network?
The fast-charging network was designed by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) together with the Federal Motorway Company and the National Coordination Centre for Charging Infrastructure under the umbrella of the NOW GmbH. The National Coordination Centre is assisting the BMV on design and implementation; the basis was the extensive data and modelling work on the expected charging demand of the future electrified heavy-freight sector.
The industry is welcoming the launch — while at the same time pushing the pace. Hildegard Müller (VDA) emphasises that the lack of public charging options is currently the biggest barrier to scaling EV truck volumes. Prof. Dr. Dirk Engelhardt (BGL) is calling for the rollout to move forward quickly now, with charging points, powerful grid connections and the actual needs of the transport industry planned in tandem.
Background: why the network is coming now
The truck fast-charging network is widely seen as a key prerequisite for the switch to battery-electric trucks to become economically viable for freight operators. The infrastructure is explicitly tailored to the demands of the electrified road-freight sector — and is therefore one of the most important infrastructure prerequisites for scaling battery-electric trucks in Germany.