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Putting Destination Charging to the Test: The Challenge of a 1,000 km EV Journey from Barcelona to Paris

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Powerdot

At Powerdot, we are transforming the electric vehicle (EV) charging experience, aiming to make long-distance travel practical and convenient. In collaboration with our charging technology provider, Kempower, we embarked on a 1,000 km journey from Barcelona to Paris in an Audi Q6 E-tron to test our destination charging stations and demonstrate how simple and convenient extended EV trips can be.

The main adventurers on this journey were Ferran Menescal, Sales Manager for Iberia at Kempower; Carlos Álvarez, Operations Director at Powerdot Spain; and César Ciaurriz, Operations Coordinator at Powerdot Spain.

 

Destination Charging: Making EV Travel Easier

Our goal was to showcase that long-distance EV travel is not only feasible but enjoyable, thanks to Powerdot’s strategically located charging points. In partnership with Kempower’s innovative fast-charging technology, we’ve deployed convenient charging solutions across more than 1,700 locations in Europe, including supermarkets, shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels.

During this 12-hour journey, we made stops at Powerdot stations in Ibis Perpignan, Intermarché Massiac, and Leon de Bruxelles Bourges in France. These stations, equipped with Kempower’s dynamic power distribution chargers, enabled fast charging up to 200 kW in just 30 minutes. This optimized charging system minimized wait times by dynamically distributing power between vehicles, significantly reducing total charging time.

The team spent only 120 minutes charging throughout the journey, using these breaks to rest, snack, or stretch their legs. You can watch a recap of our trip on YouTube.

 

A Seamless EV Charging Experience

With Powerdot, charging is about convenience, not just energy. Our stations offer multiple payment options, including payment terminals and QR codes, and are integrated with all major electric mobility service provider (eMSP) apps and navigators like Google Maps and Waze. This seamless experience allows drivers to charge their vehicles without disrupting their routines.

“We planned the route carefully, and finding fast-charging availability was easy, highlighting the growth of EV infrastructure across Europe,” Ferran shared.

Carlos added, “Powerdot is a leading operator in France, with over 5,000 active charging points. In Spain, we face challenges such as administrative processes and coordinating with energy companies, which can delay the launch of new stations. However, the 37,000 charging points in Spain today are sufficient for the current EV fleet, and operators like Powerdot remain focused on delivering ultra-fast charging infrastructure.”

César noted, “Charging stops aligned naturally with our breaks, so the total travel time wasn’t affected.” He added, “Today, EV trips are not only possible but, in my view, rival the experience of driving a combustion vehicle.”

 

Expanding Our Destination Charging Network

At Powerdot, we are committed to expanding fast and reliable charging solutions in convenient locations where EV users already go, whether for shopping, leisure, or daily activities. Looking ahead, we aim to have 15,000 fast and ultra-fast charging points across Europe by the end of 2025.

According to Girève, Powerdot is the largest charging point operator in France, with over 5,100 charging points and 860 stations. Our mission remains to bring destination charging to the locations EV users naturally frequent, making electric mobility more accessible and hassle-free.

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