French energy group Engie’s charging infrastructure subsidiary Vianeo is preparing to enter the German market with a strategic focus on building fast-charging hubs for heavy-duty electric vehicles. The company aims to begin construction in 2025, with operational sites expected in late 2026.
Vianeo, which currently operates about 9,000 charging points across Europe—including 800 on French motorways and around 5,000 in Belgium—plans to scale up to 25,000 charging points by 2030. Of these, 1,500 are intended specifically for commercial vehicles operating along key trans-European corridors. Although Vianeo has not disclosed a precise number of sites for Germany, it indicated that the country will be a focal point of its expansion.
According to Jan-Niklas Ellerich, Head of Business Development & Sales for Heavy-Duty Charging at Engie Deutschland, over 50 German projects are in early planning stages. These will be concentrated along the TEN-T corridors, which form the backbone of the European transport network. The first ground-breaking in Germany is anticipated in the third quarter of 2025, with commercial operation expected to begin a year later.
The expansion into Germany builds on Vianeo’s prior experience operating high-capacity truck charging infrastructure in France. Along the Lyon–Paris axis, the company has deployed five stations equipped with 480 kW chargers capable of delivering up to 300 km of range in 45 minutes. These installations are expected to help avoid approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Vianeo is also developing a 900-kilometre corridor between Avignon and Lille and recently opened its first station along that route in Sommesous.
In Germany, the company aims to replicate these initiatives, combining high power output with operational reliability. Pricing details for German sites have not been released, and comparisons to other markets remain difficult due to varying electricity costs and regulatory levies. However, Vianeo has stated that lessons from its French operations will help shape an efficient and scalable rollout in Germany.
Founded in 2023, Engie Vianeo serves as Engie’s dedicated EV charging subsidiary, delivering infrastructure for cars, vans, and trucks. While the German strategy centres on heavy commercial transport, Vianeo’s operations in France include charging facilities for private vehicles in retail locations, offering a more diversified approach in its home market.