The new charging facility, located at the Firmian parking area on the A22 motorway, has a total capacity of 1,000 kW and is one of the first of its kind in Europe. Developed by South Tyrol-based company Alpitronic in cooperation with the Brenner motorway operator, the station is designed to support the emerging Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard and features one MCS connector alongside two Combined Charging System (CCS2) dispensers.
The launch of the high-power charger coincides with the arrival of FERCAM’s first long-range electric lorry. The eActros 600 is equipped with a 621 kWh battery and a reported range of up to 500 kilometres without recharging. According to the company, the vehicle will be primarily used to transport goods for Daimler along the north-south route crossing the Alps.
“The eActros 600 is not a retrofit of a diesel truck but a vehicle specifically developed for electric propulsion,” said FERCAM CEO Hannes Baumgartner, noting that the company had previously tested the shorter-range eActros 300 on regional routes.
The new 1 MW charging station is capable of reducing charging times significantly. Under the right conditions, a 600 kWh battery can be recharged in approximately 30 minutes, enabling full charging during a lorry driver’s legally mandated 45-minute rest break.
“This powerful charging station for electric HGVs—unique in Italy—advances the energy transition in freight transport,” said Diego Cattoni, CEO of Autostrada del Brennero, adding that the goal is to make the A22 “Europe’s first green corridor.”
The station’s infrastructure includes a power cabinet comprising eight modules and a transformer rated at 2,000 kVA, leaving room for a second MCS unit in future. The installation also supports simultaneous high-capacity charging of up to three vehicles, with the total 1,000 kW output distributed between them.
While electric lorries are still in the early stages of adoption, both the vehicle and infrastructure developers involved say the combination of extended range and rapid charging is a key step toward wider commercial viability.
The facility is currently in a pilot phase. Charging is only available to registered vehicles issued with a badge from the motorway operator, although it is expected to open to a broader range of users, including passenger vehicles, at a later stage.
As of the end of 2024, just 6% of charging stations in Italy were equipped with high-capacity systems offering 150 kW or more, according to E-Motus data. The deployment of the MCS station marks a shift toward enabling electric operation on long-distance freight routes across Europe.
