Volkswagen joins forces with energy companies to expand EV fast charging network across Europe

During their first ever Power Day event today, Volkswagen has announced new partnerships with energy companies to expand the network of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Europe.

One of those partners is British multinational oil and gas company BP, which it plans to collaborate with to establish around 8,000 fast charging stations throughout Europe. The majority of the 150kW chargers will be installed at 4,000 BP and Aral service stations in Germany and Great Britain.

VWs plans also include Spain, where it has partnered with Iberdrola to install EV fast chargers on main traffic routes in the country. A partnership with Italy’s Enel was also announced to establish EV fast chargers along highways and also in urban areas.

The automaker plans to invest approximately €400 million in the initiative by 2025 with additional funding by external partners.

Their charging networks in North America and China continue to grow. Electrify America plans to have 3,500 fast chargers operational in North America by the end of 2021. In China, VW plans to have 17,000 charging stations by 2025.

One of the biggest factors in increasing EV adoption is range anxiety. The partnership between VW and bp could definitely ease those fears as bp estimates about 90% of people in the UK and Germany live within a 20-minute drive of one of their existing locations.

During Power Day, VW also announced plans to have six European Gigafactories operational by 2030.