France’s first ultra-high-power charging point for electric heavy-duty vehicles has entered operation on the Mont-Blanc route, one of Europe’s most important transalpine freight corridors. The site, located in Vougy shortly before the Mont-Blanc Tunnel, features a 560 kW Kempower Mega Satellite CCS charger dedicated to heavy-duty trucks.
The charging hub has been commissioned by French charging point operator Sowatt Solutions using technology supplied by Finnish manufacturer Kempower. According to the companies, this is the first Kempower Mega Satellite system to be deployed in France.
Strategic location for international freight traffic
The Mont-Blanc corridor is a key link between France and Italy and one of the busiest Alpine crossings for road freight. The route is also associated with high pollution levels, and during peak pollution periods, Italy applies traffic restrictions, including bans affecting older Euro 4 trucks.
Against this background, the new charging site has been positioned to support the gradual electrification of long-distance road transport. Located immediately before the Mont-Blanc Tunnel, the facility is accessible to international freight operators operating on cross-border routes.
High-power charging for trucks and cars
Ultra-fast charging for electric trucks on the Mont-Blanc route near the France–Italy border. Photo: Kempower
At the centre of the installation is a Kempower Mega Satellite CCS charger with a maximum output of 560 kW, designed to reduce charging times for battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles significantly. The system installed at Vougy uses a CCS-only configuration rather than the newer megawatt charging system (MCS), which Kempower has already deployed at depot-based sites in Nordic countries.
In addition to the truck charger, the site includes three dual-arm Kempower Satellite chargers, each rated at up to 300 kW, providing six high-power charging points for passenger cars. These chargers operate independently of the megawatt-class system.
It has not been specified whether the 560 kW charging point is reserved exclusively for trucks or can also be used by passenger vehicles.
Multi-energy hub concept
The Vougy site has been developed as a multi-energy station, combining conventional fuels, hydrogen and electric vehicle charging at a single location. According to Sowatt Solutions, the aim is to accommodate different propulsion technologies during the transition towards lower-emission road transport.
Kempower describes the project as an example of how high-power charging infrastructure can be integrated into existing transport corridors serving both commercial fleets and private motorists.
Public funding under France 2030 programme
No information has been disclosed regarding the total investment cost of the charging hub. However, Kempower confirms that the project has received public funding from the French state under the France 2030 programme, which is administered by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME).
The commissioning of the Vougy site highlights the growing role of public support in deploying high-capacity charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles, particularly on international transit routes where long-haul electrification remains challenging.
For the road freight sector, the installation represents a further step towards making battery-electric trucks viable on heavily used cross-border corridors in the Alps, although widespread adoption will depend on the expansion of similar infrastructure along key European routes.
