JUNA puts more than 100 Scania electric semi trucks to work

This is news about electric semi trucks in Europe, not something that touches your own home upgrades directly, but it points to where battery and charging technology is headed. JUNA, a venture between logistics firm sennder and truck maker Scania, just put its 110th electric semi truck to work hauling freight across Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands. The fleet has driven more than 3.9 million emission-free kilometers, roughly 2.5 million miles, since starting two years ago, and the company plans to add up to 40 more trucks by year's end.

The trucks themselves are notable for their batteries. Scania's R45 model carries a 624 kWh battery pack (many times larger than what's in a home battery or electric car) and can haul up to 40 tonnes roughly 215 miles on a charge. It recharges to 80 percent in about an hour using 375 kW fast charging, far more powerful than any charger you'd have at home.

For homeowners, the direct takeaway is limited, since this is commercial trucking infrastructure, not residential equipment. But it's a sign that battery costs and fast-charging capability keep improving at scale, which tends to filter down over time into cheaper batteries for home solar storage and faster, more capable EV chargers for driveways and garages.