Shell and Amazon are testing a reservation system for electric trucks

Image: Daimler Truck

Shell is supporting Amazon in expanding electric heavy-duty transportation in Germany. For this purpose, the e-commerce giant uses the energy company’s public high-performance charging hubs in Hannover and Kirchheim, with additional hubs planned in Koblenz in the future.

Shell provides high-performance charging infrastructure at these locations tailored to the needs of heavy-duty transportation. These liquid-cooled, reservation-based charging stations offer charging capacities of up to 400 kW, aiming to enable short charging times and high vehicle availability for daily logistics operations.

At selected locations, Amazon’s logistics partners will also have exclusive access to Shell’s pilot project “Home-away-from-Home.” This allows fleet operators to reserve charging slots in advance and better integrate charging processes into their transportation planning. This approach aims to enable efficient coordination of public charging with route planning, vehicle availability, and legal driving and rest time requirements.

Access to the charging infrastructure and billing are handled through the Shell Card. “Fleet customers thus receive an integrated solution for access, payment, and management within Shell’s expanding charging network for heavy commercial vehicles in Europe, which currently includes over 150 truck charging hubs,” the company claims.

"Electrifying heavy freight transport requires reliable and user-friendly charging infrastructure along the main transportation corridors," says Melanie Falkenstern, Head of Fleet Solutions DACH at Shell. "Our partnership with Amazon demonstrates how public fast charging can support the use of electric trucks in daily operations. With our charging hubs, Shell Card, and offerings like Home-away-from-Home, we create solutions that provide greater flexibility and planning certainty."

Amazon is one of the largest purchasers of electric trucks in Europe. According to the company, more than 45 battery-powered heavy-duty vehicles are currently in use within its logistics network in Germany. “By integrating Shell’s public charging network into its logistics network, Amazon can accelerate the further expansion of its electric truck fleet,” says the U.S. company.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.

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