Kia and EDP They are inaugurating the first ultra-fast charger in the car manufacturer’s charging network in Spain. A 350 kW installation installed for about two years at the brand’s dealership in San Sebastián de los Reyes, but which users could not use until now, because the charger did not have the necessary authorizations for its operation. This example shows the impact of bureaucracy on the electrification of the Spanish market, with almost 10,000 charging stations installed that do not work. This represents 30% of the total.
This 350 kW charger is part of Kia’s charging network, where electric vehicle users can charge their vehicles easily and quickly, 24/7. It is the first of many of 40 ultra-fast charging stations with 350 and 150 kW chargers that Kia and EDP will install in the South Korean firm’s main dealerships in the Spanish market.
With this network, the brand seeks to promote the purchase of electrified vehicles and eliminate some of the main uncertainties for customers when choosing a car with a combustion engine or powered by electricity. A commitment announced in Barcelona Automobile of the year 2021, which only became reality three years later due to the bureaucratic barriers to the installation of charging stations that continue to hinder the development of the electric car in Spain.
“Charging infrastructure is one of the main causes that makes some users hesitate when choosing an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid over a combustion engine model. With the support and great capillarity of our dealer network, Kia and EDP are creating one of the fastest and most efficient charging networks in Spain. This 350 kW charger offers available charging power and allows for very short charging times,” he explained. Eduardo DivarManaging Director of Kia Spain.
350 kW ultra-fast charger
The new 350 kW ultra-fast charger from the Kia network can recharge a car battery from 10% to 80%. Kia EV6 or a EV9 in less than 18 minutes, and reaches a range of 100 kilometers in less than 4.5 minutes. The high charging power of 800 V of these models allows these record times, which drop to 30 minutes on the other two electric models in the Kia range, as is the case with the e-Niroo or the new EV3.
All points of this network will be integrated within the platform Kia Charge, and on the EDP Move On platform; and they join the more than 800,000 public points available in 29 European countries. This has a price of 0.42 euros if you pay with the Kia Charge Advanced card – which has a monthly subscription of 10 euros – or 0.58 euros in case you do it through the energy app.
Charging stations
Spain continues its path towards electrification. Public charging stations increased by 10% compared to the previous quarter, up to 35,698 points, or 3,276 points more, according to data taken from the last quarter. Electromobility barometer published by Anfac. On the other hand, non-operational installed points increased by 5.8%, from 8,645 to 9,145. If these measures worked, they would increase the public charging network to 44,843, almost meeting the 2023 target.
The employers’ association is committed to setting up a series of public-private collaboration tools which facilitate the deployment of the network of charging stations in terms of capillarity, quantity and quality, such as the creation of a Charging Center. ‘State managed by the Ministry of Transport which is responsible for supervising, coordinating and guaranteeing the development of this national network.
