- The growing demand for engineering, testing and homologation services for electric vehicles, which already account for 50% of the total volume with which IDIADA works, has led to the addition of these 2 new electric charging stations, which have a total of 18 ultra-fast chargers and 5 fast chargers, as well as 10 standard speed chargers.
- Endesa X Way already built another one at the end of 2020, so the offer of chargers available at IDIADA's installations enables a total of 33 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously.
- In recent weeks, the company completed the installation of all the electrical infrastructure necessary to be able to start up the chargers and enable the running of test programmes on electrified vehicles for car manufacturers.
- Applus+ IDIADA is a global company serving the automobile industry with more than 30 years' experience in product development, providing vehicle design, engineering, testing and homologation services. Its installations, located in Catalonia, are equipped with test tracks and advanced testing laboratories and consist of a 370-hectare multi-user centre.
Every other vehicle tested on the Applus+ IDIADA test tracks, the most important in their category in Spain, is either electric or hybrid. The growing demand from automobile manufacturers to develop, validate and approve their new zero-emission products in their installations was a decisive factor so, together with Endesa X Way, the 2 new charging stations have already been installed and are operational. With this, IDIADA now has 3 charging stations in its installations in Santa Oliva (Tarragona), all of them built by Endesa X Way, Endesa's new business line dedicated exclusively to electric mobility.
Specifically, Endesa X Way created all the necessary electrical infrastructure to be able to start up the two new electric charging stations, with 9 ultra-fast chargers and 9 super-fast chargers (a total of 18 that, in addition to the 15 fast and standard chargers, make a total of 33 chargers available at IDIADA's headquarters, a 370-hectares multi-user centre where safety, security and confidentiality are the highest priority. That is why some of the chargers even have screens and closed compartments designed to guarantee the strict confidentiality of the electric vehicles that are being charged.
To make this possible, medium and low voltage power lines were laid and technical buildings were built and commissioned, including 2 transformers, electrical panels, low voltage and fire protection rooms. The company also installed LED outdoor lighting for the installations and a 10 kW photovoltaic solar plant on the roof of the canopy that houses "Electrolinera 2" which will provide solar energy to charge the vehicles.
Since electric charging processes can be very demanding, especially when it comes to prototypes, the charging stations have been sectorised, the charging processes will be constantly monitored and IDIADA has on-site customer service to ensure the service is more efficient.
For Xavi Álvarez, commercial manager of Endesa X Way, "electric mobility is becoming increasingly important in our society and our goal is to be "facilitators". This can be seen from the number of models that manufacturers put on the market every year and that they need to test beforehand in test circuits such as IDIADA, which once again has placed its trust in us to expand its charging services".
Xavier Cabús, Head of Proving Ground at Applus+ IDIADA, stated that "IDIADA is firmly committed to offering the latest automotive technologies, always under strict standards with regard to safety and the environment and, therefore, we are pleased to announce the opening of a total of 23 fast, superfast and ultra-fast charging stations between 50 kW and 400 kW. They are equipped with main adapter types such as CSS2, CSS1, CHAdeMO and GB/T, they are now operational and fully available to our customers."
Facilitating e-mobility
With more than 10 years' experience, Endesa X Way is the leading company in Spain in electric mobility services: Not only does it have the broadest network of charging stations with more than 4,300 charging stations installed, but it is also the most powerful: 45% of chargers have more than 50 kW (compared to an average of 20% for the rest of the market).
Our aim is to enable the global transformation of mobility for all users and to electrify transport in Spain. To do this, we are not only developing the largest public access charging network, we are offering charging solutions for electric vehicle users, both at residential and business level, and also for public administrations.
About Endesa
Endesa is a leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end electricity generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X, it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. It is also the leading operator of charging stations in Spain through Endesa X Way, a business line dedicated entirely to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribución, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.
Endesa X Way is Endesa's new business line and it is fully dedicated to electric mobility. It is currently a division in Iberia of Enel X Way, a world leader in intelligent electric vehicle charging solutions with more than 320,000 charging stations worldwide, including interoperability agreements. Endesa X Way provides mobility solutions to individuals, companies and partners to make the transition to electric mobility accessible and simple. The Endesa X Way flagship charging technology for residential customers was acknowledged internationally as the "best electric vehicle charger" in 2022 by CNET Roadshow.
About Applus+ IDIADA
Applus+ IDIADA is a global company serving the automobile industry with more than 30 years' experience in product development, providing vehicle design, engineering, testing and approval services. IDIADA's success in product development is based on a unique combination of highly experienced engineers, state-of-the-art testing and development installations and a constant drive towards innovation. The company employs more than 2,900 professionals and has an international network of subsidiaries and branches in 22 countries, which guarantees customised value-added solutions for its customers.