Old dilemmas will never go out of style. The expansion of electric vehicles in Spain, for example, has revived the eternal question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. Because for sustainable mobility to be consolidated and the objectives set by the Government to be achieved, it is essential to have an efficient network of charging points, but, on the other hand, it is also essential that there be a significant demand for electric cars. The problem arises when both factors condition each other: is it the lack of infrastructure that discourages consumers from opting for these cars? Or, on the contrary, is it the low presence of electrified units on the streets that is holding back investment in charging points? Spain has committed to reaching 5.5 million electric vehicles in circulation by 2030, according to the National Plan Integrated Energy and Climate (PNIEC). This objective requires a significant expansion in a park that, according to the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac), will end this year with 280,000 plug-in passenger cars. Including commercial vehicles, buses, trucks, motorcycles and quads, the total figure is close to half a million. Despite the progress, the country is still far from meeting the objectives established within the framework of Fit for 55, the European Union (EU) plan that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
distant goal
“The goal set is unattainable,” says Félix García, communications director of Anfac. Regarding the network of operational public access charging infrastructures, Spain has 37,136 points until September 30, 2024, according to data from the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility (Aedive). This information, collected among the charging operators (CPOs) members of the association, indicates that, “although there are areas in Spain where the network must be reinforced, in general it is possible to recharge and travel throughout the country,” says Arturo Pérez from Lucia, general director of Aedive. “The network is more than enough for the current fleet of electric vehicles,” he adds. Furthermore, he highlights that “the development of infrastructure must go in parallel with registrations. Oversizing the network makes no sense, since it implies high costs in equipment with sophisticated electronics, constant maintenance and operational management,» he argues. For his part, Xavier Ferré, partner responsible for the automotive and transportation sector in Spain at EY, points out that achieving a electrified park is complicated. “There are two key factors: the bureaucratic complexity of installing public charging points, with long deadlines, and the low penetration of electric vehicles, which discourages new installations.” Ferré adds that it is crucial to increase ultra-fast charging points, for municipalities to facilitate the implementation of these on their streets and to offer direct aid for the purchase of electric vehicles. According to the Electromobility Barometer, the charging infrastructure indicator in Spain is 8.7, compared to a European average of 18. More information The country with the highest indicator in the EU-27 is the Netherlands, with 82, followed by Norway, which reaches 67, while Portugal stands at 11.5. Hungary, at the opposite extreme, has an indicator of 4.1. Despite these data, García emphasizes that “for the current number of electric vehicles in circulation there are sufficient charging points.” However, there are 10,333 public charging points out of service, either due to poor condition, breakdowns or because they are not yet connected to the electrical grid, which is equivalent to 21% of the installed infrastructure. If these points were operational, Spain would reach a total of 48,209 units. In addition, only 29% of the public charging infrastructure in the country offers fast charging, with powers greater than 22 kilowatts (kW). According to Anfac, by 2024 it is expected that 51% of the points will exceed that power. Regarding high-power infrastructure, charging points of more than 250 kW have increased by 198 units in the third quarter of 2024, a growth twice as high as the previous quarter. “This advance is fundamental, since it allows a charging experience similar to that of refueling an internal combustion vehicle, which is key for the true deployment of the electric vehicle, according to Anfac. Furthermore, the association argues, the current technology of light battery vehicles already supports charging powers greater than 100 kW, and this capacity is expected to continue increasing rapidly with the introduction of new models.
More power!
“Many of the public charging points are slow, since they are used for opportunity charging in urban and peri-urban environments.” [áreas que rodean a las ciudades y que no son completamente urbanas ni completamente rurales]as well as in the tertiary sector,” explains De Lucía. “High-power recharging is advancing in Spain and more than covers the needs of electric vehicles with high battery density and fast charging capacity,” adds the expert. “It is not about building a network for five million vehicles today, but rather about developing the infrastructure in line with the progressive growth of electric cars,” comments Iván Tallón, Country Manager Iberia at Wallbox. Tallón points out that its public charger offers a capacity of 220 kilowatts, with peaks of up to 240 kilowatts. This allows a 60 kilowatt battery to be charged from 20% to 80% in just 15-20 minutes, providing a fast and efficient charging experience. Today, there are more public charging options than gas stations [unas 12.346 en todo el territorio]says the company expert. “It can be charged in supermarkets, restaurants, shopping centers and hotels.” The goal by the end of 2024 is to exceed 40,000 public charging points throughout the country. “It is a more than reasonable figure,” says the Aedive expert. “The reality is that the electric vehicle fleet in Spain has grown below expectations, and the network of charging points is oversized,” he concludes.