PROMELEK XXI, one of the main players in the local electrical equipment market, part of the Spanish group Elektra, aims to market 400 charging stations for 100% electric or plug-in hybrid cars by the end of this year. Thus, in the current market context marked by high interest in such products and state funding programmes, the company is counting on a 15% increase in sales in this niche compared to 2022.

According to the company’s data, the number of requests for charging stations for 100% electric or plug-in hybrid cars has doubled in the last two years. In fact, market research shows that by the end of 2022, the map of green gas stations in our country will have reached a total of 1,350 charging stations.

“The market for electrified cars has experienced significant growth in Romania in recent years, thus generating an increasing demand for the installation of dedicated charging stations for these vehicles,” said Károly Nagy, Managing Director of PROMELEK XXI. “Given these upward trends, we have decided to expand our business line dedicated to electric charging stations and focus assiduously on the development of this infrastructure. Electric car owners now need a proper network to be able to charge their vehicles at home, at work and while travelling.”

According to its estimates, 20% of sales in this niche are destined for the residential sector, 60% of products will be placed in public spaces, HoReCa and office buildings, and 20% will be used for transport charging infrastructure, especially electric trucks.

Amid the technological evolution of 100% electric or plug-in hybrid cars, as well as government-backed funding programmes, more and more people are opting to buy an electric car. According to APIA (Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers) data, around 16,000 cars in this category (either 100% electric, plug-in hybrid or full hybrid) were registered in the first six months of this year, representing almost 22% of the total number of cars registered. Moreover, as in 2022, electrified cars performed best at a market level, with purchases up 34.5% compared to the first half of last year.

At EU level, the trend is similar, with plug-in electric vehicles accounting for 21.6% of all new passenger cars in 2022 and hybrids for 22.6% of all sales.

Trends in the development of the charging station market

“One of the current trends in the market is the integration of slow charging stations with photovoltaic systems. This is a sustainable and economical solution for customers who want to reduce their electricity costs for charging their vehicles. As for fast charging stations, the minimum charging step is increased from 50 kW to 60 kW and the option with two simultaneous charging connectors is the most common choice,” said Károly Nagy.

Internal analysis shows that the main category of customers purchasing charging stations for the residential sector are middle and upper-middle-class families with higher education and incomes above €3,000 per month per family. Residential customers generally opt for slow charging stations (AC) with wall mounting, 6 mA DC protection and remote connection for configuration and monitoring via a mobile app. The average price for these specifications is around 750 euros.

“Another important trend is the funding programmes for charging stations, which stimulate demand from the public sector and companies benefiting from the Electric UP programme. In the case of these categories of customers, the choices are moving towards All In One charging stations, which allow both charging in a short time with DC fast charging connectors, European standard Combo CCS and Asian standard CHAdeMO, and charging in a longer time with AC slow charging connectors, type2”, added Károly Nagy.

Among the main projects carried out by the company recently in this business niche are the installation of charging stations at Avram Iancu International Airport in Cluj-Napoca, the development of the Someș riverbank by the Cluj-Napoca City Hall, the Cluj-Napoca Sports Hall Square and Compexit Trading, an authorized Skoda dealer in Cluj-Napoca.

Promelek XXI provides customers with slow and fast charging stations from various manufacturers including ABB, Schneider Electric, CIRCONTROL, EKOENERGETYKA, Legrand and others.