More than just oil

Shell: From charging buses to logistics

Andreas Stahl personifies this transformation. He is the Managing Director of SBRS GmbH, a company that was acquired by Shell in 2022. Back then, when many were still arguing about the feasibility of e-trucks, SBRS was already a pioneer in the field of charging infrastructure for local public transport and the bus sector. “Our roots lie in the bus sector and we have been converting bus depots to electricity for twelve years now,” explained Stahl. It is this expertise that is now being applied to the truck sector. SBRS is currently active in eleven European countries and more than 100 cities. Over 80 depots have already been electrified and more than 3,000 DC fast chargers have been installed specifically for commercial vehicles.  

The “Depot Plus” concept

Often, the biggest challenge faced by freight forwarders is not their truck fleet, but their own depot. This is where Stahl brings the “Depot Plus” concept into play. The idea: a freight forwarder uses its charging infrastructure overnight for its own fleet. But by day, when the trucks are out on their routes, the expensive charging stations are often left unused. “Why not make this infrastructure available to third parties?” asks Stahl. External trucks could use it for top-up charging, increasing utilisation and reducing costs for all those involved.  

Stahl is also looking ahead in terms of the technology. While 150 kW to 400 kW are the standard today, Shell is preparing for megawatt charging. A practical example of implementation is the nationwide research project HoLa—High-Power Charging in Long-Haul Trucking, funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and the EU: Along the A2, five sites are being established, each offering CCS charging technology. In addition, innovative MCS (Megawatt Charging System) technology will be installed at four of these locations. Shell has joined the central consortium and is responsible for three of these sites, two of which will be equipped with SBRS charging infrastructure using state-of-the-art CCS and MCS technology. Objective: A heavy-duty electric truck weighing 40 tonnes can be charged from 20 to 80 percent within 30 minutes using the Megawatt Charging System. In other words, at an MCS charging station, the vehicle can take on enough energy in that time for a range of 300 to 400 kilometres. Vehicles that are kept in the depot overnight do not need this level of power – slow charging overnight is usually sufficient – but high-performance technology is crucial for quick turnarounds by day or at public hubs.

As a provider of fuel and charging cards as well as other mobility solutions, Aral Fleet Solutions sees itself as a companion of the company. “Aral pulse” is Aral’s e-mobility brand and it has already set a precedent in Germany. At present, Aral operates 26 sites, which are exclusively customised for heavy goods traffic. This means wide drive-through lanes, no need to uncouple the trailer and charging power that meets the needs of strict logistics schedules.

“For the electrification of large vehicle classes in particular, a reliable charging infrastructure is fundamental in ensuring that the e-vehicles are suitable for daily use in more and more use cases,” said Brell. If you drive up to a charging station in a 40-ton truck, you must be confident that the electricity is flowing.  

The path to megawatts

Aral’s strategy is to target the main arteries of European logistics. The charging stations are positioned along important routes like the Rhine-Alp corridor. Here, e-trucks can currently charge with up to 300 kW. In 45 minutes – the legal minimum rest period for drivers – the trucks can be topped up with a range of more than 200 kilometres.

But that’s not all. Aral is also planning the expansion of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). In the coming months, five new sites are to be created in Germany, each offering up to six drive-through charging bays. The sites have already been decided where a combination of technologies will be installed: MCS with up to 1,000 kW output and classic CCS charging. This is the starting signal for the next generation of charging, with the charging time barely taking longer than it would take to fill a tank with fuel.  

Joining forces for charging infrastructure

Investment by oil companies is just one side of the coin. The expansion is also being driven forward by commercial vehicle manufacturers, including through Milence, a joint venture between the TRATON GROUP, Daimler Truck and Volvo which was founded to build high-power public charging hubs along European transport corridors. The impetus is there, and things are moving in the right direction. To ensure that the ramp-up doesn’t grind to a halt, however, policymakers must also play their part in providing faster grid connections, electricity tax relief for freight forwarders and consistent funding for expanding the charging infrastructure – both public and private.  

In the third part in our series, Johannes Pallasch, Head of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure, explains how the German Federal Government is driving the expansion of the e-truck charging network and why competition at charging stations is crucial for energy prices.