A total of 252 fast and ultra-fast chargers in members of the NEXT-E charging infrastructure project for electric vehicles will be integrated onto e-mobility digital specialist Hubject's intercharge platform, Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP), a NEXT-E member, said on Monday.
The members of NEXT-E and Hubject have joined forces to make their combined fast and ultra-fast chargers available on one EV-charging application across six bordering countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.
According to a HEP press release, “222 multistandard fast chargers (50 kW) and 30 ultra-fast chargers (150-350 kW) will be integrated onto Hubject’s intercharge platform, the world’s largest cross-provider charging network, further enabling long-distance travel in the region.”
Currently, access to EV-chargers is possible with the application of the participating company that has deployed the charger, leading to barriers in roaming and long-distance cross border EV.
The addition of 222 fast and 30 ultra-fast chargers will make it possible for users to charge their car at all charging stations of the NEXT-E project through Hubject’s intercharge platform, thus widely expanding the mobility of e-mobility customers in all NEXT-E countries.
“Interoperability and e-roaming are essential features of an efficient Electric Vehicle recharging network and provide for a seamless ‘electric journey along the European road network,” said Richard Ferrer, head of the Transport Innovation Team at the Innovation & Networks Executive Agency.
“Recharging an Electric Vehicle has to be very easy, reliable and affordable for European citizens. The availability of this service on the Hubject platform is a significant step in that direction, thanks to the pioneering spirit of public and private companies representing an entire ecosystem from energy to automotive, mobility and software industries. Electromobility is becoming a reality in Europe! The European Commission and INEA will continue to support such projects and economic operators through the various programmes to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal,” he added.
The NEXT-E project, co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, includes cooperation between four energy companies – E.ON Group entities from the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia, HEP- Hrvatska elektroprivreda from Croatia, MOL Group entities from Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovenia, Petrol Group in Slovenia and Croatia – and two car manufacturers – to deploy 222 fast and 30 ultra-fast chargers in service stations across 6 Central and Eastern European countries.
HEP’s network comprises over 200 ELEN chargers across Croatia. HEP financed their installation with its own funds and plans to have 250 chargers by the end of the year.
