PostNord trials groundbreaking megawatt charging

Unlike last-mile deliveries, long-haul transport requires vehicles that can carry heavy loads over long distances, posing technological and infrastructural hurdles. 

For PostNord, finding a solution is not just a goal – it is a necessity. With funding from Horizon Europe and in collaboration with Finnish university Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy and several leading charging companies, the MACBETH project represents a crucial step in PostNord’s transition to electric long-haul transport. It is also part of PostNord’s target to achieve fossil-free operations by 2030.  

“Through programs like Horizon Europe, the EU provides money for research and innovation projects within sustainability”, says Mie Munck Bielefeldt, Commercial Sustainability Manager at PostNord Denmark. “We have been trying to position PostNord as an interesting partner for whoever was already seeking this money. The aim is to test new technologies within sustainability and support PostNord’s green agenda.” 

Test driving megawatt charging systems  

Central to the MACBETH project is the development and installation of megawatt charging systems (MCS), a new technology that can charge electric vehicles at a very high rate. Despite technological strides, significant challenges still need to be addressed before fully implementing such systems on a large scale. 

The project will see the installation and testing of MCS at strategic locations in the Nordics, primarily within heavy vehicle charging infrastructure in Sweden, as an addition to the semi-public charging facilities at PostNord’s own terminals. In collaboration with VTT, which is responsible for developing the technology, PostNord will help test the viability of these chargers over a three-year period, providing crucial insights into how heavy-duty trucks can utilize public charging infrastructure. 

“What we hope to get out of the project, besides the validation and testing of the new technology, is research and studies showing the public grid’s ability to support megawatt charging, also in very cold conditions such as in northern Scandinavia”, says Mie. “We will be collaborating and sharing data to produce final public research that will not only help Denmark but any company or country in Europe willing to develop megawatt charging.” 

Several leading charging companies will build the public charging infrastructure, while PostNord will provide the trucks for testing. From early 2025, PostNord Denmark will have its first five electric trucks in operation, with one designated for selected routes within the project. 

“We will have one of the trucks running on these selected routes and, in exchange, get electricity cheaply in these specific locations. We believe this is going to build some momentum for switching to electric vehicles, which is what we need to do to reach our 2030 goal”, says Mie. 

Data-driven insights 

The data from PostNord will be crucial for evaluating the MCS's performance and advancing its development. It will provide insights into how electric vehicles perform in cold weather, impacting battery range and charging time. This information will aid the EU and other partners in implementing megawatt charging on a larger scale. 

“The plan is to drive the trucks to either Norway or Finland, and then share the knowledge of how they work in winter when it is really cold, and how it works when the weather is better”, says Christian Nordling, Director Health, Safety, Security & Environment at PostNord Denmark. “Then you have all this data shared into the EU as learning points that will help build the infrastructure in the future.” 

The future of long-haul transport 

For PostNord, proving the feasibility of electrifying long-distance transport is critical. If successful, the MACBETH project could significantly contribute to the company’s goal of achieving fossil-free operations by 2030.  

“It is very important for PostNord to prove that it is possible to electrify long-distance transport. If we succeed with this project to do these long-distance trips electrically, then there is a way forward to electrifying the whole fleet”, says Christian.  

Through the MACBETH project, PostNord is not only advancing its sustainability goals but also paving the way for greener long-haul transport across Europe. Christian’s ambition is to show that electrification is both possible and viable for others to adopt in the near future. “My plan is to show that this business case is good and to accelerate electrification.”