ABB E-mobility and Oreve expand electric truck charging network in France

ABB E-mobility and French charging network operator Oreve have expanded their partnership to develop 12 additional high-power charging sites along major freight corridors in France, supporting the growing demand for electric heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure.

The expansion will introduce approximately 100 charging points, with the new sites expected to provide around 18 MW of installed capacity once fully deployed by the end of 2028. The programme builds on three years of cooperation between the companies, during which six charging locations have already been established.

Under the agreement announced on 4 November 2026, ABB E-mobility will supply charging equipment, a cloud-based asset management platform and operational support services, including real-time monitoring and remote assistance.

The project will primarily support the electrification of road freight transport while continuing to accommodate passenger vehicles at selected locations.

Expansion targets major French freight corridors

The new installations will extend Oreve’s presence along transport routes used by commercial vehicle operators and logistics companies, providing additional infrastructure for electric trucks operating between distribution centres and regional markets.

Existing locations developed through the partnership include Bourg-de-Péage on the Valence–Grenoble corridor, Vénissieux near Lyon and Pardies in south-western France.

The next phase will use ABB E-mobility’s A400 charging systems, which provide up to 400 kW of power distributed dynamically between two charging points.

From early 2027, the programme will also incorporate the company’s M-Series modular charging system, designed to support the gradual expansion of charging capacity as demand increases.

According to ABB E-mobility, the modular architecture allows operators to increase the capacity of a site from an initial 400 kW installation to a charging hub of up to 1.2 MW by adding power modules and dispensers.

The system is intended to reduce the need for extensive infrastructure reconstruction when additional charging capacity becomes necessary.

Megawatt charging planned from 2027

An important element of the expansion is the planned introduction of Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology, which is designed to support the higher charging requirements of heavy-duty electric trucks.

The first MCS-capable installation under the ABB–Oreve programme is scheduled for 2027.

The M-Series supports both the Combined Charging System (CCS) and MCS standards, providing flexibility for different generations of commercial electric vehicles.

ABB’s A400 chargers and M-Series dispensers also incorporate liquid-cooled charging cables to support sustained high-current charging sessions. The A400 supports charging currents of up to 600 amperes, while the M-Series OM dispensers support up to 800 amperes.

Nicolas Dourassoff, Chief Executive Officer of Oreve, said the company was adapting its charging infrastructure strategy as the electric truck market develops, with a focus on introducing technologies that meet the requirements of fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers.

Bruno Bourguet, President EMEA at ABB E-mobility, said the modular approach would allow charging sites to increase capacity as electric truck traffic grows, while preparing the network for megawatt charging.

Supporting France’s freight electrification plans

The expansion comes as France prepares to increase charging infrastructure along its national road network.

Under the country’s long-term strategy, approximately 8,000 charging points dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles are planned across around 560 motorway rest and service areas by 2035, supported by approximately 1.6 GW of charging capacity.

These national targets provide a broader framework for private charging network investments, although the ABB–Oreve project represents a separate commercial rollout.

The 12 planned sites will complement the six locations already developed through the partnership, with the companies also planning to extend charging capacity at existing facilities.

ABB E-mobility and Oreve have not disclosed the financial value of the expanded agreement or a detailed commissioning schedule for each site.

The programme represents a further investment in charging infrastructure for long-distance electric road transport, with its full deployment planned for completion by the end of 2028.