A consortium led by Eon is receiving 45 million euros in EU funding to expand the charging infrastructure for electric cars and commercial vehicles in Europe. The Drive-E project is one of 39 projects recently selected by the European Union to improve the infrastructure for alternative fuels. As part of the project, a total of 1,400 new public charging points are to be built by the end of 2027. These include 430 charging points for heavy commercial vehicles with a capacity of 350 kW or more. Drive-E will be implemented in 13 EU countries, thus contributing to the electrification of European freight and passenger transport.
Charging points along key trans-European freight routes
The project partners behind Drive-E are Eon, ZSE, and Eldrive. Together, they will establish a network of charging points for passenger and commercial vehicles along key trans-European freight routes. This includes locations specifically designed for truck charging, as well as mixed environments for trucks and cars. Another focus of the project is to supplement and expand the existing network for light commercial vehicles in areas with network gaps.
The planned charging points are distributed across more than 250 locations in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia.
Contribution to the Decarbonization of European Freight Transport
The project is co-financed by the European Union as part of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) II. The second phase of AFIF (2024-2025) was launched in February 2024 with a total budget of one billion euros.
About Eon Drive Infrastructure
Through its subsidiary Eon Drive Infrastructure, Eon builds, owns, and operates public charging networks. Eon Drive Infrastructure currently operates more than 6,000 public charging points in eleven European countries.
About ZSE
Západoslovenská energetika, a.s. (ZSE), a company of the Eon Group, is the largest electricity supplier in Slovakia and a leading electricity and gas trader. ZSE operates a nationwide network of AC, DC, and fast charging stations. The Slovak company is preparing for the future of freight transport by investing in infrastructure for electric heavy-duty vehicles.
About Eldrive
Eldrive operates more than 2,000 public charging stations in Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria, focusing on fast and ultra-fast charging. By the end of 2024, Eldrive will begin developing its own large charging parks along major highways.
