IONITY chooses SPIE for the deployment of its pan-European network of electric vehicle charging stations

On October 29th, 2 new SHELL service areas have been inaugurated on the French A11 motorway, southwest of Paris. They are the first to be equipped with high power charging stations from the pan-European IONITY network and have been installed by SPIE.

The SPIE group has just been awarded the IONITY contract to support the deployment of 400 high power charging stations across Europe by 2020. The contract scope is large-scale and consistent with SPIE’s strategy and demonstrate the company’s primacy and expertise as a key player in the Smart City and e-mobility markets.

Created in 2016 as a joint venture by the car manufacturers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Audi and Porsche (Volkswagen Group), IONITY, located in Munich (Germany), is building a network of high-power charging stations for electric vehicles across Europe. Mainly positioned along major roads, the 400 charging stations planned for 2020 will be fitted with an average of six charging points, each with a capacity of up to 350 kW.

IONITY has commissioned SPIE to carry out two types of operations: the preparation of 66 charging stations in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia and the deployment of 103 stations in Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Hungary and the Netherlands. SPIE will be responsible for the various stages prior to the installation of the charging stations, including planning, compliance and preparation of the charging sites. The stations will feature the European Combined Charging System (CCS)* standard as well as an electrical transformer adapted to the delivery of direct current. The deployment of the stations involves installing up to 6 charging points at each station, wiring and their connection to the network.

Depending on the vehicles’ batteries, these stations offer up to 300 km of autonomy for 15 minutes’ charge. In France, SPIE has already installed around ten charging stations and is planning to install 34 others by 2020.

“In our view, SPIE satisfies a number of essential requirements: a strong presence in Europe thanks to its network of subsidiaries, a proven track record and the expert skills needed to design and install an electric vehicle charging station”, notes IONITY COO Marcus Groll.

The pan-European IONITY network is a critical phase in the development of the electric vehicle market, particularly to foster long-distance journeys thanks to fast and easy charging that can be paid for online. Jérôme Vanhove, SPIE Group strategy, development and M&A director, is delighted with the new contract: “We are thrilled to see the trust we have received from IONITY. It demonstrates the value of our expertise in terms of e-mobility and electricity transmission and distribution, as well as the relevance of our pan-European positioning. SPIE has acquired many references in the design, installation, maintenance and operation of electric vehicle charging stations. The continuous growth of this market consolidates our position as a key player in the Smart City, interurban infrastructure and energy transition markets”.

With the creation of the E-Mobility division and its joining of the Swiss eMobility association in September 2018, SPIE Switzerland is positioning on the fast-growing market of electric mobility. The E-Mobility division of SPIE Switzerland offers a full range of services covering the entire life cycle of electric charging infrastructure: analysis and planning of the sites, connection to the electricity network, development of technical concepts, and operation and maintenance consulting.

* The CCS system combines the capabilities of fast charging and conventional charging.