Vinci invested 90 million euros in these stations capable of charging an electric truck in 45 minutes
VINCI Concessions, Épopée Gestion, and ADEME Investissement will allocate 90 million euros to deploy around twenty charging stations dedicated to electric trucks. With chargers capable of delivering megawatt-level power, the goal is to restore several hours of driving range to a truck in less than 45 minutes. The first station is set to open in Vierzon, in the Cher department, in the fall of 2026.
Charging an electric truck during its driver’s break: this is the challenge Voltix, VINCI Concessions’ brand dedicated to electric truck charging, aims to overcome. Three investors have just completed a funding round of 90 million euros to support the development of a network of high-power charging stations along major road routes.
The first installation is set to go into operation in Vierzon by autumn 2026. It is located in a strategic spot at the intersection of several major routes in central France. Around twenty charging stations are planned as part of this initiative.
Also read
750 kW charging at sub-zero temperatures: MAN approves megawatt charging for its electric trucks
Megawatt charging stations to charge a truck in the time it takes for a break
At the heart of this system is the MCS, or Megawatt Charging System. This charging standard was specifically designed to deliver extremely high power levels to electric heavy vehicles.
The stated goal is particularly impressive: enabling a truck to regain an equivalent of 4 hours and 30 minutes of range in less than 45 minutes. This time frame corresponds to the mandatory break that a driver must take after several hours of driving.
This alignment is essential to meet the operational requirements of transport companies and reduce vehicle downtime. To date, electrifying heavy trucks has mainly been suitable for regional routes or trips that allow vehicles to return regularly to their bases. With fast enough charging on highways, battery-powered trucks could thus become more feasible for long-distance use.
The 90 million euros provided by VINCI Concessions, Épopée Gestion, and ADEME Investissement will be supplemented by European grants from the CEF-AFIF programs. In total, this funding is intended to support the construction of around twenty charging stations.
Without going into details at this stage, VINCI states that the vast majority of these infrastructure projects will be located in France, particularly at major road junctions. The network is then set to expand into Spain and Germany to begin forming a European-scale charging corridor. Voltix will handle the entire project lifecycle: site selection, engineering, selection and deployment of charging technologies, as well as operation and maintenance of the stations.