The first five charging points in the truck park can accommodate a total of eight electric trucks. The truck parks are designed to be safe and comfortable and there is 24/7 surveillance of parking and charging bays. Reservations are not yet necessary for charging, so e-trucks can report directly via the intercom at the entry point. E-trucks do not pay a parking fee but may use all the facilities of the secure truck park.
The project in the Waalhaven was realised in cooperation with ABB E-mobility, Batenburg Techniek, KWS Infra, Stedin and Varo Energy, which manages the charging infrastructure for TRE. Additionally, the initiative is part of the Rijkswaterstaat Living Labs Heavy Duty Charging Stations programme.
“Carriers can schedule smart combinations by, for example, charging their trucks while drivers stay in the truck park for mandatory rest,” said Ton Barten, director of TRE, adding that the facility provides a comfortable, safe, and easy switch to sustainable transport without any loss of time. “This paves the way for carriers to become more sustainable and invest in an electric fleet,” he said.
A January 2022 TNO study commissioned by the Port of Rotterdam Authority shows that around 2,000 electric trucks can be expected in the port area by 2030. This will require about 50 charging points.
Companies like Innocent Drinks and Den Hartogh already put the first 50-tonne electric trucks into service in Rotterdam in 2021. In 2022, DFDS placed an order for more than 125 e-trucks in Europe, some of which will also be deployed in Rotterdam. Besides electrification, hydrogen will also play a role in sustainable transport.
