We charged our car with green energy from Dream Energy

On the occasion of a test drive in the Lille region, we went to meet one of the first “green” superchargers, developed by Dream Energy and Siemens.

Like all competitors competing among various oil companies, the electricity market for vehicles is bustling. Many players, such as Total, Ionity, Tesla, Fastned… are seeking to carve out their share in a domain where charging speed, station availability, and price are essential.

A 100% subsidiary of Artea, a pioneer in sustainable real estate, Dream Energy has specialized in renewable electricity production and the operation of more “green” charging stations.

Today, Dream Energy offers over 250 charging points nationwide, with recent installations of superchargers in Lille-Lesquin (59), Sophia Antipolis (06), Fuveau (13), Meyreuil (13), Aix-en-Provence (13), Meylan (38), and Vesoul (70). This gave us the opportunity to test these new stations in Lille-Lesquin (59) and meet Nathan Dubois-Stora, Development and Partnerships Manager at Dream Energy.

What is Dream Energy’s concept?

Dream Energy has been a global renewable energy actor since 2007. One of our primary activities in energy is producing renewable electricity. That means we own more than 70 photovoltaic and hydraulic plants in France. We are also an electricity supplier focused on green energy, and finally, we operate charging stations, including supercharger stations.

The idea is not to buy electricity from external providers. It’s to use it in a short circuit, making it the most ecological process?

Exactly. That is the core of the Dream Energy ecosystem. When you come to recharge at a Dream Energy supercharger, what you’re buying isn’t just the charge itself but the entire energy ecosystem. Our hydraulic and photovoltaic plants in France produce “green” electricity. This electricity is then supplied directly to our stations. This ensures our customers have “green” guaranteed electricity and benefit from much more stable prices.

Speaking of prices, what are your current offers?

Today, at our Supercharger stations, if you want to recharge your vehicle, you pay €0.59 including tax per kWh for chargers ranging from 160 kW to 300 kW (compared to €0.69/kWh at Ionity without a subscription). All our stations also offer slower charging at 22 kW, with pricing based on the minute.

Regarding infrastructure, you have quite a few partners across France and even in Europe.

Currently, the main partners of Dream Energy in station development and land acquisition are mainly retail companies, but also hotel operators, and I would say, diverse stakeholders or property developers for office parks, among others, who trust us to equip their parking lots and thus provide a very concrete solution to recharge their clients’ vehicles with green energy.

How do you see 2023?

Dream Energy has been around since 2007, and our goal is to last a long time. What’s clear today is that we are in a very strong expansion phase. We are expanding in France and across Europe by opening hundreds of stations. The idea is to cover the territory and provide a uniform service for all customers, because when you’re an electric vehicle driver, what you want is to travel freely—buy the freedom of movement—and that obviously depends on extensive coverage.

Also read: Belib updates its recharge tariffs for 2023