Repsol and Nissan partner on electric mobility

Repsol and Nissan have signed a collaboration agreement to promote electric mobility in Spain.

Plans include a nationwide expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network. Initially, 15 fast charging points will be installed at Repsol service stations, with further roll-out over time.

Under the agreement, all owners of a Nissan EV will benefit from a 50% discount at the Repsol public electric charging network. Repsol currently has more than 250 charging points in public spaces, including 70 fast charging points, the majority located at service stations. In addition, it has over 1,000 private terminals installed at companies’ facilities and homes. It also has the first two ultra-fast charging points installed in the Iberian Peninsula that enable recharging in 5–10 minutes, similar to the time needed for conventional refuelling.

According to Repsol, Spain currently accounts for just 2.9% of the total charging EV infrastructure installed in Europe, while representing 10% of total vehicle sales in the EU and 15% of the bloc’s total vehicle manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Repsol has teamed up with IBIL to develop the first recharging station for EVs that incorporates energy storage at a Repsol service station on the N-I highway, in the province of Gipuzkoa.

Repsol reports that the technology enables the installation of fast recharging points (50 kW) in places where it would otherwise be unfeasible, either due to a lack of sufficient electrical power connections or where the technical difficulties in connecting to the electrical grid entail excessive levels of investment. Furthermore, the grid power required to provide the service is claimed to be reduced by 70%, allowing a 50 kW fast-charging point to be put into operation using a grid connection of only 15 kW.

Charging points can be installed at almost any location due to the minimal space required for the storage module (less than one square metre) and significantly reduces infrastructure operating costs, by up to 50%, mainly due to lower contracted power. In addition, the recharging and energy storage solution promotes a circular economy and sustainability, providing a second life for electric bus batteries that can be re-used for stationary storage applications once their life cycle in the vehicle is over.