As electrification accelerates across Europe, heavy-duty transport is entering a decisive phase where pilot projects give way to real-world operations. But charging a commercial fleet is fundamentally different from charging passenger cars – it is not about convenience, but about keeping logistics running efficiently, predictably, and at scale. From megawatt-level infrastructure and corridor-based networks to the growing importance of data quality and ecosystem collaboration, the challenges are both technical and operational. In this interview, Petra Sundström, Managing Director at TRATON Charging Solutions, shares her perspective on what it takes to build a reliable charging ecosystem for commercial vehicles. As a speaker at Track D – Electrification & Battery Development at VECS 2026, she also brings her expertise to the conference stage. She highlights why “truck-ready” infrastructure matters, how eMSPs enable seamless operations across fragmented networks, and why standardized, high-quality data is becoming mission-critical. The conversation also explores the need for closer collaboration between industry players to ensure that charging solutions truly support the realities of modern transport flows.
What makes charging for commercial vehicles fundamentally different from passenger EV charging, and why is this distinction so important to understand right now?
Charging commercial vehicles is fundamentally about operations, not convenience. While passenger cars can often adapt to available infrastructure and flexible timing, heavy-duty transport runs on tight schedules, defined routes, and high utilization rates. Every minute of downtime has a direct business impact.
In addition, the scale is entirely different, both in terms of energy demand and infrastructure requirements. We are talking about megawatt-level charging, depot integration, and corridor-based public infrastructure that can handle large vehicles reliably.
A key aspect is also the truck readiness of charging locations. Not every charging hub is suitable for heavy-duty vehicles. At TRATON Charging Solutions, we distinguish between truck limited locations, which may technically allow trucks but are not designed for them, and truck-built locations, which are specifically designed to accommodate heavy-duty vehicles in terms of layout, accessibility, space and power.
This distinction is especially important now because electrification in heavy transport is moving from early pilots to real operations. We also see that many charge point operators are increasingly focusing on building sites specifically designed for trucks, not only addressing technical requirements, but also considering driver needs such as safe parking and access to amenities. Understanding these differences ensures that we offer the right infrastructure and services from the start, ones that truly support logistics flows rather than simply adapting passenger car solutions.
From your perspective, what is the single biggest infrastructure challenge for electrifying heavy-duty transport in Europe today?
The biggest challenge is not only building more charging points, but building them in the right places, with the right capacity, and ensuring they are accessible and reliable for commercial use. It is also about timing and scale. We need to ensure that sufficient charging capacity is in place early enough for customers to confidently transition to electric operations, while at the same time scaling the network in a reliable and predictable way as adoption increases.
As more electric trucks come onto the road, we will see new operational patterns emerge, for example peak charging times during driver breaks such as lunchtime. This means we must not only provide enough high-power, truck-ready charging points, but also think ahead about solutions like booking systems. Waiting times for charging are a new operational factor in logistics and managing them effectively will be key to maintaining efficiency and trust in electric transport.
For heavy-duty transport, it is about creating a dense and dependable network along key transport corridors and logistics hubs, where trucks actually operate. This requires significant grid capacity, long-term planning, and close coordination between multiple stakeholders.
How does an eMSP help turn complex charging requirements into reliable, everyday operations for commercial fleets?
An eMSP plays a crucial role in abstracting complexity and turning a fragmented infrastructure landscape into a seamless service for fleet operators. In fact, eMSPs are already the standard way of enabling efficient and scalable operations in road transport. Very few truck drivers operate with ad hoc payment methods such as credit cards. Instead, they rely on integrated solutions that provide seamless access across networks.
At TRATON Charging Solutions, we connect a wide network of charge point operators across Europe and integrate them into a single access point for our customers. This allows drivers and fleet managers to find, access, and pay for charging in a consistent and reliable way, regardless of the underlying infrastructure.
At the same time, electrification introduces new layers of operational complexity that did not exist before. Charging is not only about location, but also about power levels, availability, and potential waiting times. These factors directly impact planning and efficiency for logistics companies.
This is where the role of an eMSP becomes even more critical. By providing reliable data, smart routing, and transparency on charging conditions, an eMSP helps fleets navigate this complexity and maintain predictable operations. In this way, we enable customers to integrate electric vehicles into their daily business with the same confidence and efficiency they expect from conventional transport.
Why are data quality and unified data models becoming critical for routing, planning and uptime in electric heavy-duty transport?
In electric heavy-duty transport, data is not just supportive, it is mission-critical. Routing decisions, charging planning, and ultimately vehicle uptime depend on accurate, consistent, and real-time information.
Today, one of the key challenges is the fragmentation and inconsistency of data across different infrastructure providers. Without a unified data model, it becomes difficult to reliably interpret whether a charging point is suitable for a truck, available, or operational.
This is why we are actively working with partners across the ecosystem to improve data quality and harmonization. A common understanding of data, from technical specifications to availability and accessibility, is essential to enable automated routing, reduce uncertainty, and build trust in electric operations at scale.
What needs to happen for eMSPs, CPOs and OEMs to successfully collaborate and deliver a seamless charging experience across Europe?
Collaboration across the ecosystem is absolutely essential, because no single player can solve this alone.
First, we need stronger alignment on standards, both technical and data-related, to ensure interoperability across markets and platforms. Second, transparency and data sharing must improve, so that all parties can build reliable services on top of a shared foundation.
Equally important is a clear focus on the end customer, the transport operator. All stakeholders, eMSPs, CPOs, and OEMs, need to design their solutions with operational realities in mind, not in isolation.
At TRATON Charging Solutions, we see our role as a connector within this ecosystem, bringing together infrastructure, vehicles, and digital services. By working closely with partners, we can accelerate the transition and deliver a truly seamless charging experience for heavy-duty transport across Europe.