Highlights
- The European Aid Programme known as CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) in the transport sector, is a key financial instrument created by the European Commission to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network.
- This is the first European programme to support the deployment of charging infrastructure not only for light electric vehicles, but specifically also for heavy-duty vehicles, the key to the electrification of the transport of goods.
- The project presented by Endesa X Way and Enel X Way in the first official call for the programme, the only one required, will involve the deployment of more than 900 ultra-fast 300kW charging stations, in 167 locations, mainly in Spain (252 charging stations and 50 locations) and Italy (110 locations and 636 charging stations).
- The transport of goods is a central feature of the supply chain and logistics in Spain: Spain is the second country in Europe with the most road transport, only exceeded by Germany, according to Eurostat data. In Spain, 95% of goods are transported by road.
Endesa X Way, Endesa's electric mobility subsidiary, together with Enel X Way, the global division of the Enel group, secured a major financing package from the European Commission under the CEF Transport programme, a key financial instrument created by the European Commission to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network. It is the first financing programme that will not only offer funds for the development of charging infrastructure for light vehicles but also for heavy vehicles, the key to the transport of goods in Europe.
In the first official call for the programme, already resolved, the project presented by Endesa X Way and Enel X Way, a subsidiary of the Enel Group for electric mobility, has an expected total investment of 68.4 million and will involve the deployment of more than 900 ultra-fast charging stations (HPC High Power Charging) of 300kW in 167 locations, of these there will be 252 ultra-fast charging stations and 50 locations in Spain and 110 locations and 636 charging stations in Italy, while in Romania 14 HPCs are planned in 7 locations. The technology required by the European Commission in this first programme focussed exclusively on ultra-fast charging is aimed at continuing to expand ultra-fast chargers for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, but the plan prepared by Endesa X Way also includes spacious project locations throughout the mainland that will enable all these chargers to be used by heavy transport.
The second of these official calls is already underway and for the first time is aimed at charging heavy goods vehicles, not only because of the type of technology required, but also because of the location of the chosen locations and the conditions of the parking areas. The European Commission is expected to make a decision after the summer. Endesa X Way and Enel X Way have presented a new project that could involve a further 20 new locations on the mainland with 100 charging stations of 300 kW and 400 kW, plus 30 locations in Italy with 180 charging stations, with a total investment of more than 46 million.
"Endesa X Way has a vocation for service and we have been working to enable the electrification of transport in Spain for more than a decade. Presenting our projects for these official calls by the European Commission represents a strategic commitment to electrifying such a key, significant sector as the transport of goods, an essential feature of the supply chain and logistics in Spain, and the key to reducing emissions in the whole transport sector and in Spain," said Elena Bernárdez, General Manager of Endesa X Way.
The ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) recently published an article in which it highlighted the positive impact that the conversion of diesel vehicles to electric vehicles can have on the environment, with a reduction of CO2 emissions and improved urban air quality, all of which makes a substantial contribution to decarbonisation. The study shows that a 40-ton articulated lorry with an electric battery will produce 63% less emissions over its useful life than a diesel powered vehicle, a percentage that would rise from 84% to 92% when the electricity that feeds them comes entirely from renewable sources.
These projects are a continuation of the path already initiated in this regard by Enel X Way in Italy, as shown by the recent agreement reached with one of the most important supermarket chains in the country, Conad, to support it in the electrification of its fleet, which travels between 450 and 500 km per day. Enel X Way deployed ultra-fast charging infrastructure designed for medium- and long-haul logistics for the cities of Rome and Palermo and Turin and Florence will soon be added.
What is the CEF?
CEF, stands for "Connecting Europe Facility". It is a key European Union instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness by means of targeted investments in infrastructure. Specifically, the CEF-T (Connecting Europe Facility-Transport) programme promotes the participation of private sector investors and financial institutions in projects that contribute to the environmental sustainability and efficiency of the transport sector in Europe. The main objective of the programme is to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)
The aim is to develop European transport infrastructure policy towards a multimodal, efficient and interconnected transport system for both passengers and goods. This involves supporting investments in the construction of new transport infrastructures in Europe and the rehabilitation and modernisation of existing ones.
It dates back to the TEN-T programme, developed during the 2007-2013 period. Then came the first edition of the CEF Transport (2014-2020) programme, and the current CEF 2 Transport 2021-2027, which has a budget of 25,800 million.
The aim, to reduce emissions
These programmes define and enable the achievement of the objectives set by the EU to achieve the 'net zero emissions' objective by 2050 and with regard to heavy transport, it aims to be even more ambitious. In February this year, the European Commission presented a proposal to impose a 90% reduction in pollutant emissions in the fleet of new lorries registered in the European Union from 2040 onwards (compared to 2019 levels), as well as to achieve the zero emissions target for city buses as early as 2023.
These new regulations for heavy vehicles still have to be negotiated with the twenty-seven governments and with the European Parliament before they are confirmed. A gradual approach is foreseen, with intermediate reductions: 45% from 2030 (compared to 2019), 65% from 2035; and 90% by 2040
According to the European Commission, the transport sector is responsible for a fifth of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. However, transport is the only sector in the EU where emissions have continued to increase in recent years. Heavy-duty vehicles such as lorries and short- and long-distance buses are responsible for more than 25% of GHG emissions from road transport in the EU and account for about 6% of total GHG emissions in the EU. These emissions continue to increase, especially with regard to goods transport. This upward curve is mainly the result of an increase in demand for road transport, which is expected to continue to increase in the future.
Endesa X Way
With more than 10 years' group 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 4,600 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).
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 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 has also created a line of business. Endesa X Way is fully dedicated 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 about 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.
Endesa X Way is one of Endesa's business lines and it is fully dedicated to electric mobility. The Iberia division of Enel X Way is currently a world leader in smart electric vehicle charging solutions with more than 430,000 charging stations worldwide, including interoperability agreements. Endesa X Way offers mobility solutions to private individuals, companies and partners to make the transition to electric vehicles accessible and easy. The Endesa X Way flagship charging technology for residential customers has been acknowledged internationally as the "best electric vehicle charger" in 2022 by CNET Roadshow.
