Milence secures €120 million after its European funding round

Behind the Volvo, Mercedes, MAN and Renault Trucks vehicles committed to this fully electric corridor, there was above all a political message: to demonstrate to European decision-makers that long-distance electric transport is no longer a promise, but an operational reality. And evidently, the message is beginning to bear fruit. A few weeks after this "Power to Go Further Tour", Milence has just announced securing an additional €120 million in financing to accelerate the rollout of its European charging network for electric heavy trucks.

During the convoy between Paris, Brussels and Berlin, Milence had deliberately placed infrastructure at the centre of the debate. Because today, the truck itself is no longer really the problem. Manufacturers know how to build high-performing electric tractors. The real issue now is the charging network.

In Brussels in particular, discussions with European elected officials had one clear objective: to make the case that without reliable, high-power and accessible charging corridors, the energy transition in road transport will remain stalled. And the timing is telling. Because just days after this on-the-ground operation, Milence announced a major development: an international financial consortium will inject €120 million to support the expansion of the European network.

Milence now operates what it describes as the largest public charging network for heavy trucks in Europe, with 34 stations across eight European countries. Sixteen new stations are already in development, and the stated objective is clear: reach 90 operational stations by the end of 2028.

Perhaps the most interesting development is the shift in tone. Just two years ago, talking about charging for electric trucks often sounded like a technological gamble. Today, the conversation is about financing, profitability, logistics corridors, access to capital markets and viable business models. The language has changed.

The other strong signal concerns the development of MCS — the Megawatt Charging System. During the Paris-Berlin convoy, several discussions had already highlighted this future standard capable of taking charging to an entirely different level. Because if a truck has to sit at a charging point for two hours, the business model becomes complicated. On the other hand, if vehicles can charge at high power during a mandatory rest break, long-distance electric transport genuinely starts to become credible. With the new generations of trucks announced by Volvo, Mercedes, MAN and others — capable of accepting much higher charging power — infrastructure becomes the key element of the equation.

Perhaps the most interesting outcome of the Paris-Berlin operation is that it helped move the debate to the right place. For years, the electric truck was judged primarily on its range. But the real question now is the ability to build a coherent network at European scale. And on that front, things appear to be shifting.

Hauliers remain cautious, sometimes sceptical — and rightly so. But the investments are coming. Stations are appearing on major routes. Manufacturers are accelerating. And now, financial institutions themselves consider heavy truck charging to have become a strategic sector.

Clearly, the message carried by Milence throughout this European road trip seems to have resonated. The electric truck is no longer merely a technological showcase. It is gradually becoming a matter of infrastructure, economics and European energy sovereignty — at a time when the oil crisis continues to hit us harder with each passing day.