Fastned’s expansion in Europe is progressing at a rapid pace. In 2024, the electric vehicle charging infrastructure developer supplied nearly 141 GWh of 100% renewable energy, representing a 40% increase over the previous year.

This growth is supported by a network that already has 350 active electric vehicle charging stations in eight European countries, and it expects to begin operating in Spain this year. The company plans to reach 1,000 stations by 2030 and triple its electricity supply to more than 420 GWh annually, taking 2024 results as a benchmark.

Inma Cima, Country Manager Spain, Fastned

“We are building around 200 more stations and signing new contracts to continue growing,” says Inma Cima, Fastned’s Country Manager in Spain, in an interview with Strategic Energy Europe.

Infrastructure at the Service of Electric Vehicles

Fastned is dedicated exclusively to ultra-fast charging, and since its founding in the Netherlands thirteen years ago, it has aimed to facilitate the shift to electric mobility through high-quality infrastructure powered by renewable energy.

“If we don’t supply renewable energy to our stations, we would be cheating ourselves and the user,” Cima points out. That’s why all stations operate with 100% renewable electricity, backed by guarantees of origin.

In 2024, this sustainable approach allowed Fastned to double its energy sales volume year over year, a trend supported by three factors: the expansion of the station network, the increased penetration of electric vehicles in Europe, and a focus on service quality.

“We have 99% uptime at our stations, while the industry average is 70%. Everything we do is focused on providing a premium service to the user,” the executive emphasizes.

Proprietary Technology and User Experience

Fastned stations are distinguished by their design and sustainability. They incorporate canopies with solar panels, which generate energy to operate the systems and power the stations.

“Each station with eight charging points can generate 18 kW with its solar panels, which allows the system to be operational. But that’s not enough for car charging, as each charger has a capacity of 400 kW,” explains the company representative.

And she assures that pilot projects with batteries are being developed in the Netherlands to manage peaks during times of grid overcapacity, which could be replicated in other markets.

The executive points out that in France, users spend an average of 29 minutes per charge, reaching average speeds of 65 kW, an average volume of 31 kWh per session, and 897 kWh per day per station.

“If we look at the entire continent, there are much more advanced countries; the European average for Fastned is 1.2 MWh per day per station,” Cima points out.

On the other hand, the company’s country manager points out that some stations offer small shops or kiosks so drivers can comfortably take advantage of the 15-minute charging time, which is supplied with energy from clean sources.

The commitment to Spain and the connection challenges

In the Spanish market, Fastned has already built its first two stations, in collaboration with Autopistas (a subsidiary of Abertis), and is in the process of connecting them to the grid this year so they can be operational.

Cima assures that they are operating in countries with five or six times more electric vehicles than in Spain, so they will use this expertise to make the learning curve as rapid as possible.

“Spain has a very important role to play. It is the second largest producer of solar energy in Europe, and it has a very significant commitment, and we are working hand in hand. The more renewable energy we produce, the more local energy we can supply to our drivers,” she points out.

However, the executive states that the main challenge is the lack of infrastructure. In this regard, he emphasizes the need for a national strategic plan to modernize and expand the electricity grid. “The energy transmission network in Spain must prepare for the decarbonization of industry in general, not just transportation. We must have a homogeneous and capillary energy transmission network that reaches all locations,” she explains.

“We often want to install stations in places where there is no available power or the connection is several kilometers away, which makes the project unviable,” she adds.

Furthermore, he states that in Europe it takes between 12 and 14 months to launch a station, while in the Spanish market it can take up to 34 months. Adding to this delay is the lack of recognition of the sector as an economic activity, which complicates obtaining municipal and regional permits.

European Regulations and a Vision for the Future

The directive highlights the role of European regulation as a driving force for progress. “The AFIR regulations require that there be an ultra-fast charging station every 60 kilometers on high-capacity roads, and by 2026, and a more restrictive review is planned for 2026, which will require more ultra-fast charging infrastructure.”

For Fastned, this regulatory framework is key to achieving the European Union’s 2050 climate goals. “Transportation accounts for between 25 and 30% of emissions, so the measures must be decisive and member states must comply with them,” she states.

Regarding the evolution of electromobility, Cima is optimistic: “In Europe, we see an exponential curve in the adoption of electric cars. In Spain, we are still at the plateau, but as more infrastructure and signage become available, more people will make the transition from hybrid to electric.”

The company was recently certified as a B Corp, achieving a score of 90.2, well above the global average of 50.9. This validates its comprehensive approach to sustainability, governance, and social responsibility.

“When you truly believe in something from within and do it well, that then trickles down to the outside world,” the executive concludes.