Dozens of new fast chargers TotalEnergies enable zero-emission zones in major cities

TotalEnergies will install over fifty new fast-charging stations in and around major cities this year. In doing so, the charging station operator is encouraging the growth of the electric vehicle fleet in the Netherlands and helping entrepreneurs who, since January 1, have only been allowed to drive electric vans and trucks into zero-emission zones.

Without an expansion of fast-charging infrastructure, the introduction of zero-emission zones would be a difficult story. So where would all these entrepreneurs need to charge? TotalEnergies meets that need and offers solutions by building fast-charging stations in inner cities or beyond. "If you ask those entrepreneurs to make a major purchase - an electric delivery van, for example - then you also need to facilitate them to charge that van where they use it. If they have to drive all the way out of town, you do ask a lot of entrepreneurs and it becomes even more difficult," says Reinout Sterk, responsible for the rollout of TotalEnergies' fast chargers in the Netherlands.

Fifty new locations

The charging station operator has now won five concessions. In the four major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht and for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA), which includes the provinces of North Holland, Utrecht and Flevoland. TotalEnergies is looking there for good locations for its fast-charging stations. "We are constantly looking for new locations," says Sterk. "By now a dozen fast-charging stations are operational. More than fifty will be added this year."

Circumventing grid congestion

Fifteen to twenty such stations will be added in and around Rotterdam. Both in the port area and in the city itself. The website Waarwiljijladen.nl shows where they have already been realized and where they are still under development. In that region, finding new locations is quite a challenge. This is because grid operator Stedin has declared net congestion for most of Rotterdam and surrounding municipalities. This means that the power grid is full and large-scale consumers - including fast-charging stations - will not receive a new electricity connection.

For some of the locations, TotalEnergies has applied before, so they will still get power. For the new locations, the company has come up with alternative solutions. For example, by installing fast chargers with an integrated battery that charges electric cars and vans. That battery is then recharged when there are no customers. "Then we can still deliver a lot of power to the customer with a very small consumer connection," Sterk explains.

Solar panels over fast chargers

The power supplied by TotalEnergies is 100 percent green. The company even has own solar farms to power its charging stations. But even that power has to go over the existing full power grid and so can only be used locally. That's why the company installs a canopy of solar panels above fast-charging stations as often as possible, which provide additional battery charging. "We have a small connection, so every bit of solar power helps," says Strong.