ABB E-Mobility expands blobally with a total of 50,000 high-power chargers sold and over 10,000 electrified sites.
What’s the key to reaching these numbers?
“Part of it is our longevity,” states Álvaro Vázquez, ABB’s Country Manager for Spain.
The company has adopted a business model focused not only on providing equipment that meets future eMobility demands but also on fostering long-term supplier-client relationships.
And all this is happening within a market that’s becoming increasingly demanding, where the stability of manufacturers is essential.
Many current contracts extend up to 15 years or more, requiring maintenance, specific services, and solutions.
The reality is that not all companies can handle this, and ABB stands out as a solid partner in this regard.
“Our approach is to ensure that infrastructure investments deliver what they promise on paper,” says Vázquez.
He adds:
“It’s no longer just about installing charging points; it’s similar to building a railway network: if a tunnel or bridge is missing, the train can’t pass. Likewise, if a connector fails in a corridor, the entire system is affected.”
With over 140 years of industrial experience and 13 years in electric mobility, ABB is positioned as a leading provider for operators and fleet companies worldwide.
ABB’s portfolio expansion continues through strategic acquisitions, such as its recent purchase of Vourity, a Swedish start-up whose cloud-based payment technology enhances drivers’ experiences at charging stations by enabling fast, secure payments.
“We don’t just sell products; we create systems that integrate with our clients’ needs and support their evolution,” Vázquez emphasizes.
ABB and focus on key clients: CPOs and last-mile companies
When asked about the types of clients who request their solutions the most, ABB highlights charging operators (CPOs).
These companies now stand out as key clients in the eMobility market, having shifted from managing individual charging points to running competitive networks.
“Three or five years ago, you charged where you could and with whichever operator was on your route,” the executive acknowledges.
“Now, you can make a choice and go with the best option. Of course, the charger itself isn’t everything, but it’s crucial that it works well, is easy, fast, and quiet,” says Vázquez, noting that CPOs now need to stand out not only for the number of connectors but also for service quality.
And that’s not all.
For some time now, ABB has focused on the last-mile delivery truck market, where electrification needs are increasingly critical.
eTrucks for last-mile delivery, especially in urban areas, require a reliable and rapid charging infrastructure.
ABB and the need for eMobility corridors
“In this sector, fixed routes become crucial, where charging must be 100% efficient,” the executive highlights.
This involves not only service but also deployment, a point affecting Europe in general.
The electrification of urban delivery fleets is just one part of the challenge; long-distance freight transport adds complexity to the infrastructure.
Vázquez emphasises the need for eMobility corridors, such as those envisioned along the Mediterranean route from Murcia to Lyon, and the Atlantic corridor linking Irún with Madrid.
“It’s essential to take this step. Whether Spain is slower or faster, we need to align with the rest of Europe. If Spanish trucks can’t reach France, it will significantly impact our competitiveness,” Vázquez points out.
Locally, these corridor developments are supported by AEDIVE.
The business association for promoting electric mobility has already proposed a comprehensive roadmap to advance this goal.
This includes a national and regional plan to verify and encourage compliance with national goals set out in the AFIR regulation for heavy transport.
The proposal also includes financial support to provide competitive charging costs, assisting logistics operators in their electrification journey.
Moreover, AEDIVE calls for streamlining and simplifying procedures at the national level to develop a charging infrastructure within timelines aligned with decarbonisation targets.
Through it all, one thing is clear for Vázquez:
“Companies must decide if they will join these corridors or not, but these projects are inevitable.”
Today, with its emphasis on reliability, ABB is becoming a strategic ally in this transition to electrification.
“The technology must meet these requirements because if you need to charge 200 trucks a day, the system must be designed to handle it,” Vázquez explains, underscoring the importance of robust models capable of adapting to increasing demands in freight transport.
It’s worth noting that the market trend is increasingly moving towards higher kilowatts.
450 kW chargers are rising stars, and the imminent arrival of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is also in the spotlight.
In this context, Álvaro Vázquez draws the industry’s attention to solutions that allow users to drive faster, take minimal breaks, and experience ever more reliable service.
