The Director of eMobility at TotalEnergies, Ignacio Barbero, maintains that although investments in charging point installation projects are significant, they “offer a return.”
In the latest edition of the “Personalities” interview series, organized by Mobility Portal España, he states:
“The profitability is not high at the moment, but if you invest in electromobility, in the medium and long term, it will be as profitable as any other energy distribution activity.”
In this growing market, sustainable mobility becomes crucial with the increasing presence of electric vehicles in major European cities.
Furthermore, it is expected that in a couple of years, these vehicles will be the only option for traveling in EU countries.
Therefore, Barbero recommends establishing long-term contracts and being prepared to endure the initial years with negative returns, trusting that the rest of the period will compensate for it.
However, there is a threat that, according to the Director of eMobility at TotalEnergies, is the Government.
Sooner or later, the administration could shift taxes to electricity, “whether in terms of amperes, volts, or kilowatt-hours,” which could affect the cost for the end user.
In this regard, the company aims to be a key player in the Spanish market.
Their goal for 2030 is to install a high-power charger every 150 kilometers.
Currently, they offer their charging services to both large customers and households, as well as in public spaces.
They have around 60 chargers installed throughout Spain, including an ultra-fast charging station in the north of the country, and 15,000 across Europe.
In their business strategy, the company aims to provide maximum convenience to its customers and, in that direction, seeks interoperability.
In the European Union, this goal is becoming a reality.
While in Spain, it is an objective being pursued with significant progress.
Therefore, TotalEnergies aims to offer its services on major highways and roads in the country, focusing on high powers.
As well as in convenient locations such as shopping centers and parking lots.
They also participate in public tenders to install points in urban areas, particularly in municipalities implementing Low Emission Zones.
“We intend to be present throughout the chain and available to the entire Spanish public,” he asserts.
Not only that, but they also support the obligation to accept credit cards as a direct payment method at public charging points.
They believe this measure would benefit the end user and contribute to greater interoperability in the charging network.
For all these reasons, Barbero insists: “It is necessary to break with the idea that electric vehicles are not sold in Spain due to a lack of charging infrastructure and vice versa.”
And he clarifies that although the charging network is not sufficient, currently an electric vehicle “can travel throughout the national territory without too many difficulties.”
What is TotalEnergies’ vision for heavy transport?
Regarding charges for heavy transport, Barbero argues that a distinction must be made between vehicles under seven tons and those over 40.
Currently, the Spanish electrical infrastructure is not fully prepared to face the transition of these types of vehicles to electrification.
However, it is necessary to adapt to this new reality in order to comply with the regulations established in the AFIR regulation.
Barbero points out that, in terms of development, the electrification of heavy vehicles is progressing at the same pace, and sometimes even faster, than that of passenger cars.
“The decarbonization of heavy-tonnage vehicles will be mixed and will combine electrification with, possibly, the use of hydrogen,” he emphasizes.
Although several industry associations agree that hydrogen and synthetic fuels should be reserved for transports that are difficult to electrify.
