Atlante: “We Aim to End 2025 with 350 Charging Points, Doubling Our Current Network”

Atlante, a company specialising in fast and ultra-fast charging infrastructure, is strategically positioning itself as one of the fastest-growing firms in Southern Europe.

“After three and a half years, we are already one of the leaders in this region, with more than 3,000 operational points and another 3,000 at various stages of development,” explains Quim Ibern Bosch in an interview with Mobility Portal Europe.

The company is part of the NHOA Group (formerly Engie EPS), which specialises in energy storage and electric mobility solutions. It operates in four countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France), where it integrates its structures and prioritises centralised services.

“This gives us a clear perspective on what is working and what isn’t, as well as identifying practices that can be transferred from one country to another,” the executive notes.

Although the rollout in Spain has been slower than in the group’s other countries, the forecast to double the infrastructure in 2025 strengthens the regional strategy.

“In Spain we have around 150 ultra-fast charging points already operational and we hope to end the year doubling that number, reaching around 300 or 350,” the CEO confirms, stressing that growth remains solid.

Atlante’s Optimism in Light of Regulatory Trends

Despite structural difficulties, the executive observes steady improvement in the regulatory ecosystem.

“There is a strong positive trend in the Spanish market,” he says, attributing part of the progress to collaboration with organisations such as Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility (AEDIVE).

Ibern Bosch highlights that various stakeholders are involved at different institutional levels to improve both legal procedures and incentives. “There is work being done in different forums and working groups to resolve the visibility issue of Distribution System Operators (DSOs). At the same time, regional authorities are trying to speed up both permitting processes and the MOVES programme.”

Regarding the latter, he states that its role remains key to the economic viability of projects. “MOVES isn’t discussed much, but it’s still essential to the profitability of our projects today,” he affirms.

The Portuguese Model as a Reference for Interoperability

Atlante also operates in Portugal, France and Italy, which enables it to compare and adopt best practices. One key takeaway comes from Portugal’s Mobi.e model, which has rapidly scaled its network through mandatory interoperability.

Mobi.e is the national operator of the electric mobility network in Portugal. It was created as a public centralised management platform that ensures interoperability among all actors in the ecosystem.

Its main function is to act as a neutral entity that connects Charge Point Operators (CPOs) with Electric Mobility Energy Suppliers (CEMEs).

“In Portugal, the charging point operator business is split in two: the CEME, and the CPO that simply rents out its network,” Ibern Bosch explains.

“This forces all companies wanting to sell their mobility services to support all other chargers.”

The executive believes this regulatory obligation drives network expansion. “It’s one of the key lessons we’ve learned from other countries: how mandating interoperability accelerates infrastructure development,” he emphasises.

Barriers to Overcome: Grid Capacity and Network Expansion

One of the main challenges in infrastructure deployment is power availability. “In Spain there’s no map showing available power at each site, so it ends up being a bit of trial and error,” Ibern Bosch warns.

The process of installing fast-charging points requires high power and faces lengthy delays. “The timeframes are extremely long between permitting, execution, and—most critically—the grid extension carried out by distribution companies,” he specifies.

To mitigate these delays, Atlante is implementing batteries as an interim technological solution. “Batteries help us speed up all these stages,” he assures.

However, he points out that this technology “is not a definitive solution”, since “it is a more expensive installation and directly compromises the profitability of the investments.”

DISCOVER MOBILITY PORTAL DATA

Discover Mobility Portal Data, a new exclusive market intelligence platform offering reliable data and key reports to support smart decision-making across the automotive sector — covering both combustion and electric vehicles, as well as charging infrastructure.

Research, trend analysis, and neatly organised statistics presented with clarity and precision, alongside up-to-date insights — all just one click away. With Mobility Portal Data, good decisions are on the horizon.

READ MORE