In the context of a series of exclusive interviews with Mobility Portal Group, Guillermo López Arias, Head of Sales Iberia & Latam at Kempower, discusses the company’s ongoing projects and outlines expansion plans.
“We are identifying other cities and countries,” acknowledges López Arias.
It is worth mentioning that Kempower has experienced significant growth in recent years.
The Finland-based company, with a strong presence in the Nordic countries, is aiming for rapid expansion within Europe.
Regarding recent projects, in December 2023, the company inaugurated the electric vehicle charging station Rifil near Malmö, Sweden.
This hub, which caters to both trucks and eCars, is part of the Falkenklev Logistik charging network: Rifil.
The site features a small restaurant, parking spaces, and a 24/7 open store.
It is noteworthy that the first Rifil charging station was opened in Malmö in 2022, with 22 Kempower Satellite charging points next to the Falkenklev Logistik depot.
At the time, this hub for heavy vehicles and cars was considered the largest in Sweden.
“The North of Europe is leading the way. In Malmö, we have electrified around 95 buses for public transportation, and in Denmark, another 121 units,” explains López Arias.
“The Nordic countries are electrifying because, unlike Southern Europe, they prioritize technologies over costs. Norway, for example, has a vision that goes beyond the initial investment,” he adds.
Another project highlighted by the Head of Sales is the one carried out in Luxembourg.
“There, nearly 99% of the chargers are high-power Kempower units, precisely because people use buses more than trains and planes,” he points out.
In Luxembourg, the company signed an agreement to deliver fast DC charging technology to MINUSINES S.A. for several electric bus stations.
The order, valued at over 2.5 million euros, included Kempower Satellite fast charging solutions, Kempower Power Unit DC, and Kempower ChargEye backend and cloud solutions.
Kempower is betting on the MCS
The new Megawatt Charging System (MCS) from Kempower for heavy transport is in its final stages.
“We expect to have the first prototypes in the early months of 2024. Additionally, we are contributing to finalize the protocol, which is not an easy task,” anticipates López Arias.
This new Kempower solution will include a high-power liquid-cooled satellite with MCS charging connectors and two 600 kW power units.
It is worth mentioning that the company is already working on initiatives with high power.
“In France, we have quite large projects, even with four megawatts per charging station,” he comments.
Currently, the company is focusing on providing the maximum power possible so that customers can charge vehicle batteries in less time.
“Although cars may not support that charging power today, we are preparing for the future and for trucks,” explains the Head of Sales.
What challenges does Kempower face?
When asked about the challenges the company faces in executing its projects, López Arias responds that it mainly has to do with access to the grid.
“Having the necessary power available to deploy the required infrastructure is often difficult to obtain and takes time,” he acknowledges.
“In Southern Europe, it is more noticeable than in the North. For example, in Spain, the processes to access the grid take more than two years and involve high costs,” he adds.
Indeed, such difficulties slow down the realization of projects.
About Kempower
Kempower designs and manufactures fast DC charging solutions for electric vehicles and machines.
The development and production of products have their roots in Finland, and most of the materials and components they use are locally sourced.
The company focuses on all areas of transportation, from personal cars and commercial vehicles to mining equipment, boats, and motor sports.
Kempower is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland.
