With the transport sector leaning towards and adopting more sustainable options, could Shell be leading the pack with its new energy hub?
Located in Eindhoven, Netherlands, the hybrid truck service station is Shell’s first facility to offer logistics and transport companies all types of energy.
These include traditional and renewable diesel, bio-LNG and electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers for e-trucks.
Eindhoven Acht also offers truck drivers various food options, a truck wash and more.
For transport companies aiming to become sustainable, a few “fast” options are available already, such as renewable diesel or Bio-LNG, which reduce CO2 emissions either during usage and/or in production.
With companies and governments becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the environment, it wouldn’t be ludicrous to assume this number will increase exponentially over the up-coming years.
Forward-thinking like Shell’s has been gaining traction, with Daimler Truck North America and DTE Energy planning to open a similar station in Michigan, USA.
The core infrastructure to support EV charging at the site will be established first, with DTE operating the EV charging solutions, solar canopies, and battery energy storage systems. They will also look to partner with third-party operators for value-added services.
But these facilities will not only be available overseas, with Australia adopting the service.
Similarly, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $22.8 million in funding to Viva Energy Group Limited (Viva Energy) in 2022 to develop, build and operate the New Energies Service Station.
The New Energies Service Station will be a publicly accessible, green hydrogen refuelling station co-located with EV charging.
Viva Energy says, “Our project brings together a diverse fleet of hydrogen vehicles, demonstrating their application in everyday operations such as road freight, public transport, municipal waste management, water treatment and general fleet.”
“Green hydrogen, generated from renewable energy and recycled water, will reduce the carbon footprint of these heavy vehicles that Australians rely on every day.”
Located in Geelong, Victoria, this project is set to be completed in 2026, and aims to support the uptake of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in heavy fleets.
Fossil-fuel truck stops are going to become obsolete, and electric truck stops will need to meet the needs of commercial EV drivers who stop to charge their vehicles.