What was considered fast charging years ago is no longer the case, or at least it is not what electric vehicle (EV) users expect today.
Currently, those driving on the roads are not looking for 50-kilowatt (kW) power, but rather more than 150 kW.
“This means that any technology developed at this moment could become outdated,” explains Manuel Sande e Castro, Sales Director at Hellonext, during the virtual event “Voice of eMobility Leaders” organised by Mobility Portal Europe.
What aspects should be considered to avoid this situation?
“All products must be future-proof,” he acknowledges.
This means that chargers should be upgradeable, so that with little investment, they can offer greater power.
“When someone invests in a direct current (DC) charger, the idea is that they won’t have to replace it after five years, but rather keep it for at least 10 or 15 years, because that’s when the return on investment occurs,” comments Sande e Castro.
It is in this context that the company launched the Wallbox H2 30-80, which allows scalable power from 30 kW to 80 kW with one or two connectors.
The ideal customers are supermarkets, but it covers a wide range of scenarios, from parking lot owners and hotels to small fleets with space constraints.
“Most choose chargers of 150 kW or more. However, due to the limitations of the grid infrastructure, there is still significant potential in the gap between 30 and 80 kilowatts,” explains the Sales Director.
He continues: “In terms of numbers and quantity, that’s where the greatest opportunity really lies, because it’s what the grid currently allows.”
With this product, Hellonext aims to offer a better experience for the end user.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that, to achieve its goal of becoming one of the leading charger manufacturers in Europe, the company prioritises staying as close as possible to its customers.
“This means not only having sales teams on the ground in most European countries but also providing solutions when unforeseen events occur,” he states.
The truth is that Hellonext recognises that having the right after-sales support throughout the product’s lifecycle is essential.
“That’s where we are investing the most,” he adds.
Why invest in battery storage?
A few years ago, the global consultancy McKinsey shared a study estimating the investment required in charging stations, grid infrastructure, and energy production to meet the 2030 goals.
What is most interesting is that, although the price allocated to chargers is high, the investment needed in grid infrastructure is ten times higher, and for energy generation, it is forty times higher.
“These types of investments require years of development. For example, several permits must be obtained and aligned with different entities,” comments Sande e Castro.
In this regard, for the electromobility sector to provide the necessary output power and keep pace with demand, battery storage is key.
“As a complement to the available grid energy, it will deliver more output power during charging and also help stabilise more unstable local grids, but it won’t replace them,” he indicates.
In this way, battery storage helps accelerate the number of fast chargers and provides the experience the customer expects.
To stay at the forefront of the sector, Hellonext is developing a solution, more details of which will be shared next month.
Hellonext proposes using the same infrastructure for cars and trucks
Multiple companies, including Hellonext, are developing the megawatt charging system (MCS), as sooner or later, it will be necessary to have it.
“But to be honest, there aren’t many electric trucks today that can really charge at one megawatt per hour; they currently charge at a maximum of 350 or 400 kilowatts,” acknowledges Sande e Castro.
It is in this regard that the Sales Director emphasises the importance of being flexible when investing in infrastructure.
“This infrastructure, until it becomes profitable solely with trucks, can also be used by electric cars,” he comments.
He adds: “This could have a significant impact on the profitability of the sites being developed.”
The truth is that there are already cars available that charge up to 300 or 350 kilowatts, such as the Audi e-Tron and the new Porsche that will be launched soon.
What role should incentives play?
During the virtual event, Martin Coll, Business Development Manager for Spain at Hellonext, provides an overview of what E-Mobility companies need from government authorities.
In this regard, Coll explains: “Governments should support manufacturers through European incentives and co-financing programmes to accelerate the rollout of the network, especially in less profitable or rural areas.”
He continues: “But it could be even more helpful to reduce bureaucracy and simplify the permitting processes.”
In this sense, the Business Development Manager acknowledges that, while it is important to have financial support from governments, it should not lead to over-regulation.
“Money is available. We just need to simplify some processes so the industry can thrive,” he adds.
However, Hellonext explains that relying solely on subsidies creates uncertainty due to changing policies and timelines.
“While subsidies provide valuable momentum, they are more effective when they complement ongoing projects than when used as the primary investment driver,” comments Coll.
Coll believes that, instead of artificially relying on government aid, such investments should be generated organically by demand, because the consumer truly believes in the technology and is committed.
