A consortium led by the energy supplier E.ON is receiving 45 million euros in EU funding for the expansion of charging infrastructure for electric cars and commercial vehicles in Europe. The DRIVE-E project is one of 39 innovative projects recently selected by the European Union to improve alternative fuel infrastructure. As part of the project, a total of 1,400 new public charging points are to be created by the end of 2027. Among them are 430 charging points for heavy commercial vehicles with a capacity of 350 kW or more. DRIVE-E is being implemented in 13 EU countries and thus makes a significant contribution to the electrification of European freight and passenger transport.
The project partners behind DRIVE-E are E.ON, ZSE, and Eldrive. Together, they will build a network of charging points for cars and commercial vehicles along major trans-European freight routes. This includes both 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, 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 under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) II. The AFIF is a key driver of the EU's efforts to expand charging infrastructure in the trans-European transport network, thereby making freight and passenger transport in Europe more efficient and sustainable. The second phase of the AFIF (2024-2025) was launched in February 2024 with a total budget of one billion euros.
