Repsol aims to establish a network of 1,000 charging stations in Spain.

The company, which currently has 300 charging points for electric vehicles in the country, wants to take the leap by facilitating the installation of new electric charging stations, reaching a thousand in the coming years.

The emergence of the electric vehicle continues to make headlines in the energy sector. Last week, Repsol announced a plan to reach a total of 1,000 so-called electric vehicle charging points in the coming years, thus guaranteeing an electricity supply point every 50 kilometers in the so-called major corridors. The company, which also recently announced an agreement with Nissan for the joint deployment of 15 fast charging points at its service stations, is thus activating a future plan that supports what is already more than a trend and is confirmed as a reality: the candidacy of the electric vehicle to replace traditional and polluting combustion vehicles.

The news cannot be seen as a surprise, since Repsol has been a pioneer in the implementation of technologies related to the electric vehicle. An example of this is the opening of the first electric charging station with energy storage, which took place last February in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa. This facility, shared 50/50 with EVE (a public company of the Basque Government), performs energy storage tasks using second-life batteries in Spain. This system allows us to know when power is being obtained from the grid to charge the batteries and when from the storage battery itself to service the vehicles.

Currently, Repsol has 50 fast-charging electric charging stations and another 2 ultra-fast charging stations in Spain.

How do fast-charging electric charging stations work?

First of all, it is important to keep in mind that what we know as fast-charging electric charging stations operate with a power equal to or greater than 50 kW, that is, in direct current. This is why, in order for our car to charge, we will need more elements than we would find in a domestic or low-power charger.

Thus, electricity reaches the charging stations through the electrical network supplied by the supplier. This is where we will differentiate three main elements for charging our vehicle:

• Transformation center, including connection to the Medium voltage network.
• Power converter cabinet.
• Charging post.

Let’s go with the first one. The transformation center will be in charge of connecting the electric charging station to the medium voltage network, complying with the regulations required by the Electricity Distributor to whose network it will be connected and transforming the electricity from the medium voltage network to low voltage. Why is this point important? Because it guarantees the operation of the rest of the elements that ensure the charging of the electric vehicle and because it is, in turn, a fundamental point from the point of view of safety.

Furthermore, the most advanced transformation centers offer operating companies remote data that allow them to know the consumption, usage trends, the state of the network and its elements, allowing them to operate and maintain their network of charging stations more efficiently. All of this guarantees that there is energy available to the different users.

Once the voltage is low, it is time for the second element of the equation to come into operation: it is the turn of the power converter cabinet. This set of equipment fulfills the function of adapting the electricity, which arrives in alternating current, to direct current, which is what the batteries of electric vehicles accept.

Now, that the voltage is low and the current is direct current, it is the turn of the best-known element: the charging post. These posts, with an appearance and functions similar to the pumps we find at any gas station, only in this case the energy is electrical, are responsible for transmitting energy to our car.

In addition, they allow us to know the energy that the “electrolinera” is capable of supplying us, what our battery is capable of absorbing, the temperature conditions of the battery and an approximation of the charging time, in addition to payment management. In short, in addition to providing us with energy through the cable, they act as our interpreter so that the charger and the vehicle understand each other and we can choose the best charging option.

The most powerful in southern Europe, in Bizkaia

Although Spain is still a country that has yet to make this type of technology more common, the province of Bizkaia has the most powerful charging station for electric vehicles in all of southern Europe.

This station, promoted by Repsol, is capable of delivering up to 400 kilowatts individually through its four charging terminals. This means that electric vehicles with a battery capable of supporting this maximum power will be fully recharged within five to ten minutes.

This station uses 100% Basque technology, highlighting the role that Ormazabal, a company specializing in smart grids, has played in delivering a complete transformation center for energy supply.