E-truck charging moves from pilot to bankable network — the gap

European e-truck charging is finally moving from pilot projects to a bankable network, but the pace is still set by a handful of players and the gap between announced corridors and operational reality remains wide.

The evidence from the second half of 2025 and early 2026 points to a market that is consolidating around a few large joint ventures and OEM-led platforms, while the technology for megawatt charging is being deployed in parallel with the existing CCS standard. The key finding is that the infrastructure build-out is no longer the primary bottleneck; instead, the bottleneck is the speed at which utilities, permitting agencies, and grid connections can be delivered. This is visible in the announcements from Greenlane, Daimler Truck, Spirii, and Volvo, which collectively show a shift from single-site demonstrations to multi-state corridors and platform-based network management.

Greenlane is building the first true interstate corridors, not just single sites

The most concrete evidence of this shift comes from Greenlane, the joint venture between Daimler Truck, NextEra Energy, and BlackRock. In August 2025, the company announced plans for a second electric vehicle charging corridor that connects Southern California to Arizona, according to a press release dated Aug. 12, 2025. This is not a single depot or a single charging station; it is a corridor, meaning multiple sites spaced along a highway route to enable long-haul operation. The announcement specifically mentioned pilot programs with electric truck OEM Windrose Technology, which indicates that the corridor is being designed with a specific vehicle partner in mind, rather than as a generic public charging service.

Then, in May 2026, Greenlane expanded into Texas, with plans to install both CCS and megawatt charging system (MCS) connectors at its planned Dallas and Houston charging hubs. This is a significant technical detail because it shows that Greenlane is not waiting for the MCS standard to be finalized before building. By installing both connectors, the company can serve today’s CCS-equipped trucks and tomorrow’s MCS-equipped trucks on the same site, reducing the risk of stranded assets. The Texas expansion also signals that the company is moving beyond the West Coast, which has been the traditional focus of early e-truck adoption in the United States. The company’s stated goal, as quoted in the source, is to “help stakeholders understand the future of mobility,” which suggests that these hubs are also data-gathering exercises, not just charging points.

The table below compares the two announced Greenlane corridors and the Daimler Truck/Spirii platform, based solely on the sourced information.

Daimler Truck is hedging its bets with a platform play in Europe

While Greenlane is building physical infrastructure in North America, Daimler Truck is simultaneously pursuing a software and platform strategy in Europe. On Dec. 11, 2025, Spirii announced a partnership with Daimler Truck to provide the technology platform for TruckCharge Network, a semi-public charging initiative for heavy-duty trucks. The term “semi-public” is important because it implies that the network is not open to all truck operators on a first-come, first-served basis, but is likely reserved for fleet customers or partners who have contracted for access. This is a different business model from Greenlane’s public corridor approach, and it reflects the fragmented nature of the European trucking market, where many fleets operate from private depots and are wary of relying on public charging.

The Spirii partnership is a technology play, not a construction play. Spirii is providing the software platform that will manage the network, including billing, load management, and user authentication. This is a crucial piece of the puzzle because one of the biggest operational challenges for e-truck fleets is not just finding a charger, but managing the payment and energy management across multiple sites. By standardizing the platform, Daimler Truck can offer a seamless experience to its customers, which is likely to be a competitive advantage over truck makers that are only selling vehicles and leaving charging to third parties.

Volvo’s 250 million kilometre milestone proves the technology works, but the next step is range

The operational evidence for e-truck viability comes from Volvo, which announced on Oct. 28, 2025, that its electric truck fleet has surpassed 250 million kilometres in commercial operations worldwide since the company launched its first electric truck. This is a cumulative figure, not an annual one, but it is a significant validation of the technology. For context, 250 million kilometres is roughly equivalent to 625 trips around the Earth, or about 6,250 times the distance from London to New York. This is not a pilot project; this is commercial operation at scale.

However, the same announcement also revealed the next hurdle: range. Volvo plans to launch an electric heavy-duty truck with a 600 km range on a single charge in 2026 as part of its decarbonisation strategy. The current generation of electric trucks typically offers a range of 300 to 400 km, which is sufficient for regional distribution but not for long-haul transcontinental routes. The 600 km target is a step change, but it also requires the charging infrastructure to support it. A 600 km range means a driver can potentially do a full day’s driving without a mid-route charge, but it also means that when they do need to charge, they will need a very high-power charger to get back on the road quickly. This is where the MCS standard becomes critical, and it explains why Greenlane is installing MCS connectors in Texas.

DAF is attacking the problem from the vehicle side with new axles

While Volvo is focusing on range, DAF is broadening its electric truck range with new axles, as announced on Jan. 29, 2026. The source does not provide specific technical details on the axles, but the implication is that DAF is working on the drivetrain efficiency and weight distribution, which are critical for electric trucks. Electric trucks are heavier than diesel trucks because of the battery pack, and every kilogram saved on the chassis can be used for payload. New axles can also improve energy efficiency by reducing friction, which directly translates to more range. This is a less glamorous but equally important part of the rollout, because it addresses the total cost of ownership. A truck that can carry more cargo and use less energy per kilometre is more profitable for the fleet operator, regardless of the charging network.

The UK is a regulatory outlier, with hydrogen combustion passing the MOT

The regulatory landscape is not uniform, and the UK is providing a notable test case. On May 6, 2026, Metier’s H2ICE truck became the first to pass the UK MOT test. The source does not specify whether this is a hydrogen internal combustion engine or a hydrogen fuel cell, but the acronym H2ICE strongly suggests hydrogen internal combustion. This is a different technology pathway from battery-electric, and its success in passing the MOT is a regulatory milestone. It does not mean that hydrogen combustion will replace battery-electric, but it does mean that the UK is open to multiple zero-emission technologies, which could be important for fleets that operate in cold climates or on routes where battery range is insufficient. The MOT pass is a certification event, not a commercial launch, but it is a necessary step for any vehicle to be sold and operated in the UK.

What this means for fleet operators and infrastructure investors

The combined picture from these six sources is that the e-truck rollout is entering a phase of parallel development. The technology is proven, as evidenced by Volvo’s 250 million kilometres. The infrastructure is being built, as evidenced by Greenlane’s corridors and Texas hubs. The software platform is being standardized, as evidenced by the Spirii and Daimler Truck partnership. And the vehicle range is being extended, as evidenced by Volvo’s 600 km target and DAF’s new axles.

The critical missing piece is not the hardware or the software, but the speed of deployment. Greenlane announced its second corridor in August 2025 and its Texas expansion in May 2026, but the source does not provide a construction timeline or a completion date. The gap between announcement and operation is where projects often stall, due to grid connection delays, local permitting, and supply chain issues. For fleet operators, this means that the decision to buy an electric truck should not be based on the announced network, but on the specific routes they operate and the availability of charging at their depots. For investors, the opportunity is not in the charging hardware itself, but in the companies that can manage the grid connection process and deliver projects on time.

The data also suggests that the market is not yet competitive in the traditional sense. Greenlane is a joint venture of three large players, and TruckCharge Network is a partnership between Daimler Truck and Spirii. There is no evidence of a price war or a race to the bottom on charging rates. Instead, the competition is about coverage, reliability, and integration with fleet management software. The first company to offer a seamless, pan-European or transcontinental network with a single billing platform will likely capture the largest share of the long-haul market.

Sources

• Spirii partners with Daimler Truck on HDT charging — https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/spirii-partners-with-daimler-truck-on-hdt-charging/ (Thu, 11 Dec 2025)
• Greenlane expands e-truck charging network into Texas — https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/greenlane-expands-e-truck-charging-network-into-texas/ (Wed, 06 May 2026)
• Greenlane announces second long-haul electric truck charging corridor — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/greenlane-daimler-truck-second-electric-vehicle-charging-corridor-trucks/758627/ (Tue, 26 Aug 2025)
• Metier H2ICE truck becomes first to pass UK MOT test — https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/metier-h2ice-truck-becomes-first-to-pass-uk-mot-test/ (Wed, 06 May 2026)
• Volvo’s electric trucks surpass 250 million kilometres — https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/volvos-electric-trucks-surpass-250-million-kilometres/ (Tue, 28 Oct 2025)
• DAF broadens electric truck range with new axles — https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/daf-broadens-electric-truck-range-with-new-axles/ (Thu, 29 Jan 2026)