The largest public electrification project for EV cars in Spain uses Kempower chargers
In September 2023, one of leading South European charging infrastructure operators Zunder inaugurated Spain’s largest electrification project for public charging of EV cars in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Basque country. Using Kempower technology, the project marks a milestone for the city, which has been a European Green Capital since 2012 and is also part of the EU’s Horizon Europe mission to decarbonize 100 cities by 2030.
In Vitoria Zunder is currently operating 84 charging points, distributed among 21 charging stations all equipped with Kempower Satellites and Kempower Power Units.
This huge project acknowledges that to build a fairer, more sustainable society, and to achieve such challenging goals, Vitoria must electrify both its private and public transport system and provide its citizens with accessible and reliable EV charging infrastructure.
Flexibility and optimized load management for public EV charging infrastructure
This is a very important project for Zunder. A decisive factor in the Spanish CPO’s decision to rely on Kempower’s solutions for this important project was the modularity and flexibility the Finnish company’s chargers offer.
Kempower’s solutions enable Zunder to charge the EV cars using the optimal range power for this project, from 25 to 180 kW. The Kempower Power Unit allocates the available power from the grid and distributes it efficiently among the cars charging on site. Zunder can thus optimize the power delivered to each vehicle at any given moment according to its need. This dynamic distribution of power results in major efficiency, therefore lower costs and ultimately in more profitability.
For this project, Zunder has sought a flexible solution based on the user’s needs and that additionally the service works efficiently and twenty-four by seven.
An intuitive and enjoyable user-experience is key to public charging infrastructure
To boost the transition to electric cars it is key that the charging experience is easy and intuitive. “The main challenge facing electric mobility is a lack of knowledge and misinformation. Drivers need correct information on the charging process. They need to know that it’s quite simple”, says Mr. Pérez, CEO of Zunder.
“Kempower’s chargers are very user friendly, not complex at all: you press a button on the touchscreen, plug the connector into the car and the charging process starts by itself.” explains Daniel Pérez. To make it even easier for users, Kempower’s spring-assisted cable support system means drivers feel less weight when lifting the cable to connect it to their car.
Overall, it was important to Zunder to provide drivers with a pleasant charging experience. As Kempower Satellites can be installed far from the power module or Kempower Power Unit, drivers don’t experience any noise while charging. “Kempower’s charging experience is fantastic, as it gives drivers a moment of peace. One of the things people appreciate about EVs is the silence that they experience when driving electric cars versus combustion ones. It’s very important to me that the charging environment continues that experience,” explains Daniel Pérez, the CEO of Zunder.
To further enhance the positive user experience, Zunder offers drivers Zunder’s mobile app and total volume payment, and integrates technologies such as Apple Watch and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The economic impact of providing a city with public charging infrastructure
Zunder understands that one of the challenges for European cities like Vitoria is to make the transition of its citizens to e-mobility as fast as possible. That’s why the charging stations are strategically located in the parking spaces of shopping centers, on central squares and key thoroughfares to provide maximum accessibility and convenience to EV drivers. In such urban environments, where space is very limited and valuable, it also helps that Kempower’s charging solutions have a small footprint. “This allowed us to install the chargers using the narrow space available in the most efficient way”, added Mr. Pérez.
Having implemented similar, yet smaller, projects in other Spanish cities, Zunder knows that providing EV charging infrastructure positively impacts local EV sales leading to a growth rate substantially higher than the national average. Mr. Pérez therefore expects to see significant growth in EV adoption in the mid-term in Vitoria, too.
“We are aware that the adoption of EVs not only helps protect the environment, but it’s also an opportunity for economic development.” reinforces Vitoria’s Vice Mayor Beatriz Artolazabal. “We want to guarantee to people, who eventually take the decision to buy an EV, that they will have the opportunity to easily and comfortably charge their car.”, adds Artolazabal.
Beside deploying a capillary charging infrastructure, the City Council and Zunder want to equip charging stations with high and reliable power to make the charging sessions fast, and thus allow a frequent rotation of vehicles.
By 2025, Zunder wants to operate more than 4,000 charging points and manage 40,000 through its platform. Its expansion plans include the opening of its first ultra-fast charging station in France, to be followed by Portugal and Italy.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the Basque Country in northern Spain. The municipality is the largest in the Basque Country, with a population of around 250.000.
Vitoria is a dynamic city consistently ranked highly in quality of life and business opportunities and as one of the 5 best places to live in Spain.
It was the first Spanish municipality to be awarded the title of European Green Capital back in 2012 and has been also recognized by the UN with the Global Green City Award in 2019.
