Kempower partnered with ASKO, Norway’s largest grocery wholesaler, to solve one of the Nordics’ toughest electrification challenges — powering a constantly growing truck electric fleet that operates up to 24/7 with almost no buffer for delays. By treating charging as a mission-critical logistics function rather than basic infrastructure, Kempower delivered a nationwide, high-reliability charging ecosystem, including Norway’s first megawatt charging system. The result is a fleet that charges faster, runs more reliably, and achieves a 95% reduction in CO₂ emissions while maintaining ASKO’s high delivery performance.

The demands of electrifying a 700-truck distribution network

ASKO committed to eliminating emissions from all their deliveries.  The target is to have a fossile free transport operation – one of the boldest commitments in the region. This requires a transition of their fleet of 700 trucks. With 200 trucks electrified by the end of 2025, they are marking the first crucial phase of electrification. But electrifying such a large fleet surfaced a deeper operational truth that would determine the success or failure of the entire program:

For a fleet operating up to 24/7 with minimal buffer time, charging is not merely energy infrastructure — it is a mission-critical logistics function where even small delays can disrupt the entire delivery chain.

To support ASKO’s business, the charging network needed to function with the same precision and reliability as its logistics operations. That meant designing a system that was not only fast, but also predictable, available on demand, intelligently managed, and capable of scaling with the fleet.

Electric trucks needed to charge efficiently during tight route transitions, during legally required 45-minute driver breaks, and during overnight staging — all without introducing operational bottlenecks. Charging reliability had to exceed traditional energy infrastructure standards, because any disruption would cascade across delivery schedules. The charging system also needed to integrate with ASKO’s logistics planning tools, allowing vehicles, chargers, route schedules, and grid conditions to be synchronized in real time.

Without a charging ecosystem built as a logistics backbone rather than a stand-alone energy asset, ASKO risked delivery delays, reduced fleet utilization, and missing its sustainability goals.

“Electrifying a fleet of this size required a reliable charging backbone that could match our operational pace,” said Lars Erik Olsen, Technical Manager at ASKO Norway.  Kempower exceeded all our expectations.  “With Kempower, we’ve shown that large-scale, sustainable logistics is not only possible — it’s already happening.”

Powering the next generation of ASKO’s logistics

To meet ASKO’s logistics-critical requirements, Kempower designed an integrated, modular charging ecosystem that supports fast, predictable, and highly reliable heavy-duty EV operations across Norway.

Since 2022, Kempower has delivered more than 185 charging points across ASKO’s 15 distribution centers. These sites include high-power Kempower Satellite chargers capable of delivering up to 400 kW, enabling full overnight charging while also offering meaningful opportunity charging during route transitions and short breaks.

This capacity was significantly expanded at ASKO Vestby, which became the first site in Norway to install a megawatt charging system. Kempower delivered two 1.2 MW Kempower Power Units, connected to a combination of MCS and CCS2 high-power dispensers capable of delivering up to 1.2 MW at 1500A. This level of power reduces typical heavy-duty charging time from around 60 minutes to under 45 minutes, aligning perfectly with legally mandated driver breaks and removing charging as a source of operational downtime.

Reliability was engineered into the core of the system. Kempower’s modular architecture ensures that if one module encounters a fault, other modules continue operating, preserving charging availability during peak demand. Across all ASKO locations, Kempower chargers consistently achieve over 99% uptime, according to data collected from more than 13 million charging sessions across Kempower’s installed base since 2018.

To ensure charging operations fit seamlessly into ASKO’s daily logistics workflow, Kempower integrated its cloud-based charging management platform, ChargEye, with ASKO’s existing transport management software, PANION, developed by K2 Mobility. This integration provides real-time coordination of vehicle status, charger availability, route plans, and power grid constraints. It also enables ASKO to optimize charging schedules, reduce peak energy costs, and respond dynamically to operational changes.

User experience was important to charger and site design. The large and robust design of Kempower Mega Satellites make them very serviceable, which is essential in the case of electric trucks where unexpected downtime is extremely costly. The chargers’ spring-loaded cables, where the MCS plug remains suspended in place if dropped, rather than falling to the ground makes the otherwise stiff and heavy cable easier to maneuver for truck drivers.

Scalability is another key feature of Kempower’s solution. ASKO can expand its charging capacity in 50 kW increments, while dynamic power distribution in 25 kW steps allows the system to efficiently adjust power allocation based on vehicle needs. The infrastructure installed at Vestby is also designed to serve external heavy-duty EV fleets in the future, enabling ASKO to support wider electrification in the region and potentially generate new revenue streams.

Scania, which manufactures ASKO’s electric trucks, was another crucial piece of the puzzle. Scania Pilot Partner designed ASKO’s first MCS-capable trucks to charge with both the new MCS and the existing CCS2 standard, enabling the trucks to adapt to different charging scenarios during the MCS transition period. Kempower and Scania collaborated closely to ensure the chargers and trucks communicated with each other and supported efficient operation.

Delivering measurable operational and environmental outcomes

The groundbreaking partnership between Kempower, Scania and ASKO has delivered measurable results across logistics performance, operational efficiency, business value, and environmental impact.

Supporting fleet operations at full speed

The system’s 99%+ uptime ensures trucks can reliably charge exactly when needed, helping ASKO maintain confidence in its scheduling. The introduction of MCS charging at Vestby allows trucks to charge fully in the same 45-minute window required by driver regulations, essentially eliminating charging-related downtime. The combination of overnight charging and rapid daytime top-ups means trucks can stay in rotation throughout their 24/7 without interruption.

Greater operational efficiency and lower energy costs

Through the integration of ChargEye and ASKO’s PANION logistics system, ASKO now benefits from full visibility into charging demand, route plans, fleet readiness, and grid usage. This unified view allows for better planning, reduced peak energy consumption, and improved coordination between charging and logistics. The redundancy built into the hardware further minimizes operational disruptions and supports consistent fleet performance.

Future-proof infrastructure that drives business value

ASKO now operates an infrastructure that not only supports today’s fleet but is also ready for tomorrow. The modular design allows ASKO to expand power capacity gradually as the fleet grows. Vestby’s high-power MCS station will eventually be able to serve other commercial fleets, enabling ASKO to contribute to a broader ecosystem of electric heavy-duty adoption.

Significant environmental milestones achieved ahead of schedule

ASKO’s electrification efforts, supported by Kempower’s charging ecosystem, have led to a 95% reduction in CO₂ emissions from the trucks already replaced — equivalent to approximately 1,700 tons annually. This progress has enabled ASKO to meet its interim sustainability targets well ahead of plan, demonstrating that high-performance logistics and ambitious climate goals can go hand in hand.

“This facility is more than a charging site — it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when technology and collaboration move in the same direction,” said Marius Råstad, Corporate Logistics Manager for Outbound Transport at ASKO Norway.

“When we first partnered in 2022, ASKO challenged us to ‘think like a truck driver.’ That mindset shaped every design decision at the 15 depots from over-head charging solutions and cable arms to overnight charging, and now also to megawatt charging.  Ultimately, it helped us build a charging system that supports ASKO’s mission,” added Terje Ekberg, Senior Sales Manager at Kempower Norway.

Previous

Next