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 charging stations until reaching a thousand in the coming years.

The rise of electric vehicles continues to dominate headlines in the energy sector. Last week, Repsol announced a plan to reach a total of 1,000 electric vehicle charging points in the coming years, guaranteeing an electric supply point every 50 kilometers along major transportation 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 activatinga 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 theimplementation of technologies related to electric vehiclesAn example of this is the opening of the first electric vehicle charging station with energy storage, which took place last February in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa. This facility, shared 50/50 with EVE (the Basque Government’s public company), performs energy storage using second-life batteries in Spain. This system allows the operator to know when to draw power from the grid to charge the batteries and when to use the storage battery itself to power the vehicles.

Repsol currently has in Spain50 fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations and another 2 ultra-fast-charging stations.

How do fast charging stations work?

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

Thus, electricity reaches the charging stations 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 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 electric vehicle charging station in all of southern Europe.

This charging station, developed by Repsol, can deliver up to 400 kilowatts per charging station through its four charging terminals. This means that electric vehicles with batteries capable of supporting this maximum power can be fully recharged in five to ten minutes.

This station has been built using 100% Basque technology.highlighting the role of Ormazabal, a company specializing in smart grids, has delivered a complete transformation center for the supply of energy.