Manufacturers repeat it at every edition of SOLUTRANS: they have done their part by developing ranges of electric, hydrogen or gas-powered trucks. But on the ground, one question keeps coming up in discussions among road freight transport professionals: who will build, finance and operate the networks capable of powering these commercial vehicles?
Published on Oct 1,2026 at 9:50 AM | Updated on Oct 19,2026 at 4:02 PM

Electric charging: funded corridors, but persistent gaps 

Under the European AFIF programmes, 61 heavy goods vehicle charging sites were selected in early 2025 to receive funding linked to the TEN-T corridors. But not all regions are moving at the same pace: Northern Europe has taken a clear lead in the rollout of MCS (megawatt charging) points, while Southern Europe remains held back by support schemes that are more complex to access.

On the ground, opinions differ slightly on the split between depot and roaming charging: some industry players put it at around 70% in favour of depots, others as high as 80%. A figure that remains secondary compared with a view shared across sector operators: the roaming network still critically lacks the maturity needed by hauliers operating under professional contracts, who are exposed to price volatility. The SOLUTRANS review details the strategies energy suppliers have put in place to limit this exposure, as well as the financing models offered to transport companies.

Semi-public logistics hubs, but a regulatory framework still unclear


To densify the network, several energy suppliers are now betting on semi-public charging, illustrated by a logistics hub construction project announced for 2026 in the Île-de-France region. A promising avenue, but one that raises an unexpected regulatory question: the conditions for driver welfare and rest at these sites, closely monitored by the regional labour authorities (DREAL) and unions.

The reason lies in a rule little known to the general public: to pause their tachograph, a driver must be able to attend to personal matters away from the truck, which requires a minimum level of amenities at charging sites. The review looks at the ongoing discussions between operators, developers and driver representatives on this still largely open issue.

Hydrogen and NGV: two networks moving at very different speeds

France's hydrogen network remains embryonic, with only 39 stations delivering 350 bar, compared with around a hundred in Germany. A gap that moves France further away from the European AFIR target of one station every 200 km. French administrative constraints do not help matters, adding further delays to an already slow rollout.

NGV is faring better, with 373 stations recorded at the end of 2025, though momentum varies by technology: LNG is struggling against electric with barely a hundred stations, while CNG shows stronger growth with eleven new stations expected in 2026. The SOLUTRANS review details the geographic distribution of these networks and the operators most active in each energy type.

An availability barometer that calls network reliability into question

Beyond the number of stations, it is now their reliability that is worrying the industry. According to AVERE France's 2025 barometer, the proportion of charging points available 99% of the time caps out at 65%, and outages lasting more than 7 consecutive days affect 6% of installations. Figures that weigh directly on hauliers' confidence in electric power, particularly on lower-density networks such as hydrogen or LNG.

The SOLUTRANS review puts these figures into perspective alongside the number of stations specifically dedicated to heavy goods vehicles across Europe, whether operational or under development — a key indicator for anticipating the next pressure points.

Storage: a new growth driver for hauliers

Another trend gathering momentum: the growth of solar power across hauliers' yards, driven by several recent French laws, is opening the way to a form of "in-house" electricity storage for fleet charging. What remains is for transport and warehousing companies to secure the financial resources needed to invest in these installations.

What the industry should take away for 2027

European funding, regional disparities, regulatory constraints on rest areas, network reliability still to be improved: infrastructure remains, alongside the energies themselves, the main bottleneck in road freight transport's transition. SOLUTRANS' 2025 Review & 2027 Outlook offers a comprehensive reading of these issues, with hard data broken down by energy type and the sensitive areas identified by operators.
Download the full review