Fastned wins the call for tenders for ultra-fast charging stations on French highways

Fastned specializes in the development and operation of ultra-fast charging infrastructures where drivers can charge their electric vehicle to gain 300 km of range in 15 minutes before resuming their journey. Based in Amsterdam, the Dutch company has built 129 ultra-fast charging stations across the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium since its creation in 2012. Fastned is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

The contract with the APRR will allow Fastned to develop a network of ultra-fast charging stations at 9 sites directly serving the motorway from Paris to Lyon, the road to Switzerland as well as around Dijon, ensuring that drivers from electric vehicles can travel without difficulty on the Autoroute du Soleil, from the capital of France to Lyon. This is the first time that Fastned has won a call for tenders for a charging infrastructure in France and it is the first time that the APRR has issued a public call for tenders for a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Construction of the charging stations is scheduled for 2021 after which Fastned will be able to operate them for 14 years. At each of the sites, Fastned plans to build a large charging station to charge up to 16 vehicles simultaneously. This will allow hundreds of cars per day to recharge at each site. The stations will include a roof made of photovoltaic cells on an FSC-certified wood structure, and will deliver 100% renewable energy derived from a mixture of wind and solar energy.

Michiel Langezaal, CEO of Fastned: “We are delighted to have been selected by the APRR to provide and operate services on ultra-fast recharging of nine service areas. These sites ensure a solid entry for Fastned into French territory. In addition, it proves the transparency of public procedures for issuing operating contracts to accelerate the construction of charging infrastructure. We look forward to working closely with APRR to build a better infrastructure for electric vehicle drivers and play our role in keeping with France's climate ambitions. "

The sale of electric vehicle batteries (this excludes hybrids) in the EU has increased by 191% over the past three years, but the number of charging points has only increased by 58% (remaining below 200 ), according to the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA report). Automakers and policymakers fear that a lack of charging infrastructure will limit the adoption of electric vehicles, even as governments like the UK's seek to ban sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 000.

Station characteristics:

• At Fastned electrical stations, drivers add 300 kilometers of range to their vehicle in just 15 minutes
• Each station has a loading capacity of hundreds of cars per day
• Fastned only distributes renewable energy whether wind or solar