The Basque Country seeks to triple its rapid charging network for electric cars.

Lehendakari Urkullu announces that the Basque government aims to triple the current fast charging network, reaching 100 points, in the next four years.

Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu announced last Monday the Basque Government’s firm commitment to tripling the fast-charging network for electric vehicles, reaching 100 such points in the next four years. Urkullu unveiled this challenge during the inauguration of a new fast-charging point.powered by Iberdrolain the town of Antoñana in Álava, accompanied by the Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Arantxa Tapia, the General Deputy of Álava, Ramiro González, and the Institutional Delegate of Iberdrola in the Basque Country, Asís Canales.

With the aim of achieving “a greener, more digital and more inclusive Basque Country”, the Lehendakari stressed the need to invest in “a Basque network connected to the Iberian corridor and the European network”, for which the horizon of this legislature will mark a milestone.

Regarding the newly opened charging point, the facility, accessible via an app, is designed for all types of electric vehicles and allows both fast charging, with 50kW of DC power, and semi-fast charging, with 44kW of AC power. This new charging point is designed to allow two vehicles to access its service simultaneously.

The opening of this new Iberdrola electric vehicle charging point in the Basque Country coincided with another opening by the company in Benisanó, where dthe new dual rapid chargersThe 50-kilowatt charging stations will be available 24 hours a day and will allow the simultaneous charging of up to 4 electric vehicles.

How does an electric vehicle charging station work?

First, it’s important to understand that fast charging stations operate at 50 kW or higher, meaning they use direct current (DC). Therefore, charging your car at a fast charging station will require more components than you would find in a standard home or low-power charger.

Thus, electricity reaches the charging station through the electrical grid supplied by the provider. Here we will distinguish three main elements for charging our vehicle:

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

Let’s start with the first point. The transformer substation will be responsible for connecting the electric vehicle charging station to the medium-voltage grid, complying with the regulations required by the electricity distribution company to whose network it will be connected, and for transforming the electricity from the medium-voltage grid to low voltage. Why is this point important? Because it guarantees the operation of the other elements that will ensure the electric vehicle is charged, and because it is also a fundamental point from a safety perspective.

Besides, the most advanced transformer substationsThey provide operating companies with remote data that allows them to understand consumption patterns, usage trends, and the status of the network and its components, enabling them to operate and maintain their network of charging stations more efficiently. All of this ensures that energy is available to all users.

Once the voltage is low, it’s time for the second element of the equation to come into play: the power converter cabinet. This set of equipment adapts the incoming alternating current (AC) electricity to direct current (DC), which is what electric vehicle batteries can handle.

Now that the voltage is low and the current is direct current, it’s time to talk about the most familiar element: the charging station. These stations, with an appearance and function similar to the pumps found at any gas station, only in this case the energy is electrical, are responsible for transmitting the energy to our car.

Furthermore, these devices allow us to know the energy the charging station can supply, the energy our battery can absorb, the battery’s temperature, and an estimated charging time, as well as manage payment. In short, besides providing the energy through the cable, they act as our interpreter, enabling the charger and the vehicle to communicate and allowing us to choose the best charging option.

The fastest charging pointpowerful 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 had, since October 2019, the most powerful electric vehicle charging station in all of southern Europe.

This station, developed by Repsol, can deliver up to 400 kilowatts individually to the fast-charging network through its four charging terminals. This means that electric vehicles with batteries that support this maximum power will be fully charged in five to ten minutes.

This station, the second Repsol has opened at its service stations this year, features 100% Basque technology, with particular emphasis on the role of Ormazabal, a company specializing in smart grids, which provided a complete transformer substation for energy supply.