Swedish electric transport service provider, Einride, has inaugurated its initial ‘Smartcharger Station’ for electric trucks in Rosersberg, Sweden, signaling a collaborative effort with infrastructure developer and investor Polar Structure to establish a global charging infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles.
The Rosersberg charging park, equipped with a total of nine charging points, features five ‘Charge & Go’ points for fast charging and an additional four ‘Charge & Park’ stations for overnight slow charging. The facility is designed with a load management system, allowing simultaneous charging for up to eight electric trucks. While Einride did not specify the reason behind the limitation to eight simultaneous charging points, it is noted that two fast chargers in the ‘Charge & Go’ area may share a single parking bay, potentially explaining the configuration.
Einride has opened its first Smartcharger Station in Rosersberg, north of Stockholm. Built in partnership with Polar Structure, the station provides a quick, reliable and efficient charging solution for electric heavy-duty vehicles at scale. https://t.co/lfeuyonaib
— Einride (@einrideofficial) November 15, 2023
The hardware supplier details were not disclosed by Einride, but visual evidence suggests that the high-power chargers are from Kempower, boasting an output of 240 kW. The remaining four charging options in the ‘Charge & Park’ area remain unattributed in terms of supplier and charging power.
Einride emphasized driver-centric design elements at the location, incorporating interactive lighting to aid navigation, draw attention to available chargers, and display the charging status of vehicles. The drivers’ lounge, equipped with amenities such as toilets, showers, and a kitchenette, serves as an information hub, providing real-time updates on charging status, current capacity, and remaining time.
Constructed with regionally sourced materials, including Bohus granite and Swedish wood, the facility is partially covered, with energy supplied by wind turbines and plans for a future transition to hydropower. Notably, Einride has engineered the charging park to be dismantled and relocated, adding a flexible dimension to its deployment.
Looking ahead, Einride has ambitious plans to address the growing demand for heavy goods transport charging infrastructure. Smaller Smartcharger stations have already been established in Borås, Markaryd, and Ljungby, with a larger station slated for Varberg in 2024, serving as a central hub for the “Nordic Link Grid” connecting the Nordic countries to mainland Europe. Additionally, Einride envisions a significant charging park in the USA, with 65 charging points near the port of Los Angeles, although specific construction details and performance data are yet to be disclosed.
