Contargo and Ports de l’Escaut inaugurate charging station

On June 8, 2026, a new charging station for electric trucks was inaugurated at the container terminal in Valenciennes, northern France. The port authority Ports de l’Escaut presented the facility in the presence of representatives from Contargo as well as from business and politics. During the event, Contargo North France also introduced the company’s first two electric trucks in France.

Contargo, a network for container hinterland logistics, aims to achieve complete decarbonization by 2045. A central component of this strategy is the electrification of all road freight transport, including transportation by subcontractors. This includes trips between terminals and to end customers, with the necessary charging infrastructure also taken into account. In Germany, Contargo already operates 51 charging points at 11 locations, with the goal of increasing this number to 90 charging points at 15 locations by the end of 2026. Of the approximately 1,000 trucks used by Contargo across Europe, 250 belong to its own fleet, including 92 battery-electric vehicles. Additionally, Contargo also operates hybrid-powered inland vessels.

In parallel to these developments, the port association Ports de l’Escaut has been promoting more sustainable transport solutions in the region for several years. The joint authority Syndicat Mixte Docks Seine Nord Europe / Escaut, which operates the public port infrastructure in the Valenciennes area, handles the transport of nearly 1.2 million tons of goods via waterways annually. By supporting inland shipping and multimodal transport, the association contributes to reducing emissions in the transport sector and strengthens the competitiveness and economic attractiveness of the highly industrialized Hauts-de-France region.

With the new charging station at the container terminal in Valenciennes, which has been operated by Contargo since 2015, another step has been taken towards the decarbonization strategy. The Syndicat Mixte invested in two charging points for electric heavy-duty vehicles directly at the terminal entrance, while Contargo procured two fully electric Mercedes eActros. The official inauguration of the infrastructure and vehicles took place on June 8 in the presence of numerous institutional representatives, terminal customers, and the management of Contargo.

Jürgen Albersmann, CEO of Contargo, expressed positive remarks about the progress: „We are pleased to further develop our decarbonization strategy at the Valenciennes terminal. This has been made possible by the commitment of the Syndicat Mixte and the determination of the leaders at our Hauts-de-France location – initially Gilbert Bredel and since summer 2025 Raf van Dijck.“

Pierre Griner, President of the Syndicat Mixte Docks Seine Nord Europe / Escaut, emphasized the collaboration with Contargo: „This infrastructure demonstrates the willingness of the Syndicat Mixte Docks Seine Nord Europe / Escaut to concretely support the energy transition in the logistics sector. By investing in a charging station for electric heavy-duty vehicles, we are creating the necessary conditions for the development of new low-emission mobility solutions in the service of the companies in our region.“