Electric vehicle charging infrastructure developer Eleport has opened the largest charging park in the Baltic States.

Located in the heart of Kaunas, at the Akropolis shopping centre, 20 stations from the first phase are now operational, allowing up to 40 electric vehicles (EVs) to be charged simultaneously.

Eleport plans to install another 20 charging stations, with the total investment in this project approaching almost one million euros.

To introduce consumers to modern equipment, charging services at Kaunas’ Akropolis will be free for the first two weeks until May 17.

“The new charging park stands out in terms of its size, but considering traffic flows, the occupancy of the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot, and the dynamics of the growth in the number of electric vehicles, it can be predicted that even with such capacity, it will be sufficient for no longer than a five-six year period,” comments Kazys Pupinis, Eleport’s manager in Lithuania and the Baltic States.

“That’s why we are planning further expansion in advance – we want to ensure that as the number of EVs grows, both Kaunas residents and city guests can conveniently use the new charging park,” he adds.

“Over the past two years, the number of electric vehicles on Lithuanian roads has increased by 50 per cent, but in absolute numbers, it is still a niche,” says EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.

“I am convinced that thanks to such infrastructure projects, this community will grow, and the motivation to switch to electric vehicles will increase. This requires effort from both business and the state,” he adds.

Until now, there has been a lack of public charging stations in the center of Kaunas and its surroundings.

By installing 20 slow and fast charging stations at the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot, the Estonian company has significantly expanded the options for electric vehicle drivers.

In the first phase of expansion, 12 direct current (DC) and eight alternating current (AC) power stations were installed, with the same number of chargers planned for installation in the second phase of expansion.

Upon completion of the second phase, up to 80 EVs will be able to charge simultaneously.

“Convenient electric vehicle infrastructure becomes increasingly relevant to our visitors and contributes to more sustainable transportation, which generates less pollution and noise,” states Brigita Kuodytė, manager of Kaunas Akropolis.

“Being a landmark in a very convenient central location, near one of the main city transport arteries, Kaunas Akropolis is an ideal place for this ambitious project, which, I am sure, will contribute to the green transformation not only in Kaunas but also in Lithuania,” she adds.

Charging capacity is planned to be doubled

During the first phase, stations were installed at four different locations in the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot.

Four fast charging stations were installed in front of St. Cross Church, and the same number was installed between the entrances to the first floor of the building, with the rest located on the second floor of the multi-storey parking lot.

The total capacity of operating stations is 1552 kilowatts, with most of the capacity – 1200 kilowatts- allocated to fast charging equipment.

Upon completion of the second phase, the total power of the charging stations will exceed three megawatts.

At the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot, cars of all brands can be charged.

Fast charging stations use CHAdeMO and CCS connectors, while medium-speed chargers use Type2 connectors.

Depending on the ambient temperature and the model of the electric vehicle, battery charging at a fast charging station will take from half an hour to an hour and a half.

In the four main Eleport markets – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland – more than 500 company-managed charging points were already in operation at the end of last year.

This year, the firm plans to invest more than 20 million euros in the development of the EV network and over 100 million euros in the next few years.

By the end of the year, more than 1350 company-managed charging points should be operational in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.