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Kempower backs electric truck transition in France with the country’s first logistics hub equipped with Kempower charging solutions
- Kempower has collaborated with its partner Virta to plan, deliver and install charging infrastructure for GT Solutions at their depot in Aulnay-sous-bois
- The depot has been equipped with Kempower’s powerful and size-efficient DC fast-charging solutions in a bid to maximize its existing truck capacity
- The project with Kempower and Virta contributes to GT Solutions’ ambitious net-zero goals and the wider e-truck transition in France
Paris, 3 October 2024 – Finnish DC fast-charging manufacturer Kempower has partnered with leading French fleet operator GT Solutions to launch GT Solutions first logistics hub charging site in France.
The charging location is at the Aulnay-sous-Bois depot of French transportation and logistics company GT Solutions, located north of Paris, which collaborated with Kempower and EV software provider Virta to open the site in time for the launch of its brand new e-truck fleet.
The charging site has been supplied with a 600kW Kempower Power Unit and six Kempower Satellites, which can deliver a maximum power of 200kW per charger. The charging solutions are capable of charging a standard truck from 20% to 80% in less than 1 hour, allowing GT Solutions’ fleet to fully recharge overnight or during idle periods.
The site officially opened on 3 October when its nine new electric trucks were deployed for the first time. The fleet primarily operates last-mile logistics journeys, a business model which lends itself well to fleet electrification given the shorter distances travelled and opportunity for regular, long charging periods at the home depot.
The cooperation between Kempower and GT Solutions was facilitated by the companies’ mutual partner Virta, a digital platform supporting charge point operators to grow their business through data-driven insights and expert consultation.
The project comes as the e-truck transition in France gains momentum, driven by both national and European net-zero targets. The European Union has set a goal for a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 2040, a target that’s moving in the right direction after the sale of electric trucks increased almost threefold in 2023.
Targets, regulation and incentives have gone some way to inspire logistics operators to embrace incoming change, with GT Solutions pledging to reduce the emissions of its more than 1,900-strong fleet by 15% by the end of the year.
The collaboration saw the two companies work in tandem to overcome the logistical challenges of integrating charging infrastructure within an existing truck depot, where free space is often very limited and operations cannot be disrupted for large restructuring projects.
“Given the huge size of the trucks and the need to retain as much space as possible at the depot, it was vital that we planned the project with an exceptional eye for detail and efficiency,” said Cédric Moret, Kempower’s Head of Sales for France.
He added: “The project with GT Solutions was a perfect opportunity for our team to deploy not only our market-leading DC fast-charging solutions, but the expertise and consulting support we have been offering our customers to ensure optimal and efficient infrastructure layout. GT Solutions is leading the way when it comes to electrification of logistics fleets in France, and we’re proud that our first logistics DC fast charging site in the country will play a role in helping the team achieve its goals.”
Romuald Chemin, Technical Director at GT Solutions, commented: “As a fleet operator with ambitious decarbonization plans, our aims for the charging site were twofold – we needed the depot to be adequately equipped for the electrification of our fleet without losing valuable space for our trucks, which is essential from a business perspective.”
He continued: “Kempower’s technology offers powerful DC fast charging with excellent size efficiency, supporting our transition and allowing us to install the necessary infrastructure without compromising on truck space and avoiding major structural work. The chargers also have the robustness needed to withstand the depot’s busy working environment and often demanding conditions.”
Kempower media:
Paula Savonen, VP Communications, Kempower
paula.savonen@kempower.com
+358 400 343 851
Kempower in brief
We design and manufacture reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. Our vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone, everywhere. Our product development and production are based in Finland and in the U.S. with the majority of our materials and components sourced locally. We focus on all areas of e-mobility, from electric cars, trucks, and buses to machines and marine. Our modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed by EV drivers for EV drivers, enabling the best user experience for our customers around the world. Kempower is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange in Finland. www.kempower.com
About GT Solutions
Established 78 years ago, GT Solutions, managed by Matthieu Sarrat, the great-grandson of founder Gaston Trochery, has 2,000 employees and a turnover of €230 million. 5% of the company’s shares are held by the employees.
www.gt-solutions.fr
About Virta
Virta is a pioneer in the development of intelligent charging services for electric vehicles. Its supervision platform is used by over 1,000 private and public companies and organizations in the logistics, retail, hospitality, real estate, parking, service station, automotive and energy sectors. Its customers operate more than 112,000 chargers in 35 countries, forming the “Powered by Virta” network. Thanks to roaming, electric motorists can access over 516,000 charging points in more than 65 countries. The company holds 40 patent families focused on energy management capabilities, which are essential to the future ecosystem of connected energy and mobility.
https://www.virta.global/fr
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