The largest network of charging stations for electric cars in Romania, Renovatio e-charge, receives a grant of 9.5 million euro from the European Union (EU) for the national construction of a number of 242 new such points of great power.

Thus, the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA) recently signed the financing agreements with the members of the Expand-E Consortium (EXpanding Performance and Network Density – Electric), of which Renovatio e-charge is also part.

“The Expand-E Consortium is installing, between June 2022 and June 2025, in over 450 locations, from 22 EU member states, a total of 2,100 charging points (150 – 350kW), intended for light and heavy electric vehicles for transporting goods. The EU finances this project by awarding a grant in the total amount of 70 million euros, of which 9.5 million euro go to Romania,” said Alexandru Teodorescu, managing partner of Renovatio e-charge.

As part of the European project Expand-E, Renovatio e-charge will install 222 high-power charging points, of at least 150 kW, dedicated to light electric vehicles, as well as 20 charging points, with a power of at least 350 kW, intended for electric heavy transport vehicles (trucks, buses and coaches), in 53 places, along the main corridors of the TEN-T network in Romania.

All charging stations will be public, accessible 24/7, interconnected with the other members of the project, as well as with other mobility service operators, through roaming solutions. Also, all stations will be equipped with payment terminals, which will allow users to charge directly, without prior registration or commercial contract, Teodorescu said.

“The EU grant also attracted private capital, and the project also secured a 30 million euro loan from a European bank, as well as additional working capital from consortium members and several financial institutions. These things underline both the ability of the private sector to catalyze additional investment and the confidence of investors in the project and in the growth of the electric vehicle market. Additionally, the European Commission has selected the Expand-E Hungary project for financing, which involves the implementation of 42 charging points in 7 locations in Hungary, thus completing the missing links of the global Expand-E project and ensuring the coverage of 23 EU member states,” says the company.