Plugit Finland and Ahola Transport are leading the way in the electrification of heavy vehicle transport. Ahola Transport has invested in a new public high-power charging station for heavy vehicles, which opened in Naantali, Finland, in September 2024. At the same time, the company began operating a fully electric truck in cross-border transport.
The heavy vehicle industry is undergoing a transformation, and the logistics sector is rapidly seeking solutions to reduce emissions.
– Everyone is now exploring alternatives to diesel. Discussions are ongoing about different energy sources, such as hydrogen, biodiesel, and electricity, says Joona Töyräs from Plugit Finland.
In the joint ACE investment by Plugit Finland and Ahola Transport, electricity is being explored as a solution to the energy transition. The ACE investment is part of a Finnish seven-year project set to conclude in 2030.
– At the moment, it seems that electric vehicle transport is the strongest solution. We have been researching the electrification path for a long time. In Sweden, we’ve been operating an electric truck for over two years. Now, we’re gathering data on the use of an electric truck in traffic between Finland and Sweden, says Martin Nybacka from Ahola Transport.
Charging station near the port
Plugit Finland is building a public PRO DC charging network in Finland. These are high-power charging stations designed for professional transport, especially for heavy vehicles. Charging stations are currently located in Tampere, Pirkkala, and Naantali.
– Our goals align well with Ahola’s. We aim to build a public support network for heavy transport, and Ahola is eager to pilot electric trucks.
The investment progressed quickly from planning to implementation during 2024. The charging station in Naantali is located on Ahola Transport’s premises, at the site of a former refueling station.
EU funding helped make the investment decision possible.
– EU support helps us get through the early years. Initially, station usage is low, as there are still few electric trucks in operation. Some costs associated with the station, such as electricity transfer capacity fees, can be the same regardless of utilization rates, Töyräs explains.
The Naantali charging station has a capacity of 720 kW and can simultaneously serve two electric trucks or four passenger cars. A single charging gun can provide a maximum of 360 kW, the limit of what heavy electric vehicles can currently receive. The charging station is also open to passenger cars, but there has not yet been much congestion at the Naantali site.
For Plugit Finland, the station's location near the port is key.
– Ports are logistics hubs, making them logical investment targets as we build a support network for heavy transport, Töyräs says.
The station is operational, but development work on the investment continues.
– It will be interesting to see how interest in the station grows and what data we collect from the charging operations. We are eager to explore how to further develop the concept for optimal functionality. For example, next year, we plan to pilot energy optimization with battery storage.
Comparison data for different energy sources
The fully electric trailer truck currently operated by Ahola Transport has a range of approximately 300 kilometers on a single charge. The location of the Naantali charging station is crucial for traffic between Finland and Sweden, enabling flexible operations on the dedicated route between Hämeenlinna and Jönköping. The truck’s battery is typically charged four times along the route.
– We gain valuable operational data: how electric vehicles and charging infrastructure function, and how weather and load affect electricity consumption and range, says Nybacka.
Ahola Transport also operates gas- and diesel-powered vehicles on the same route. Comparative data from the different energy sources is also utilized in the ACE project.
– We want to be trailblazers and demonstrate that electric operations are possible even in long-haul transport. Success requires precise advance planning and leveraging what we learn in further development. We are grateful to our customers and partners who are willing to invest with us in this development, Nybacka adds.
Töyräs also hopes that electricity will be seen as the most attractive option in the future.
– Vehicles are still expensive, but delivery times, charging capacities, and ranges are no longer the same constraints as they were even two years ago, Töyräs concludes.
ACE CASE – At the heart of solutions. We tell the stories of people and companies behind climate investments. #climatesolutions
LIFE22-IPC-FI-ACE LIFE. Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.