Electra deploys its first fast charging stations

New French company Electra aims to establish itself in the fast charging of electric vehicles, with its first station in Aubervilliers.

There isn’t a week without a new announcement for charging infrastructure. And that’s a good thing, given the considerable delay in this area! Avere-France listed only 50,000 charging points at the end of 2021, far from the 100,000 target set by Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.

And the electric car fleet is growing as quickly as the desire for long trips. However, here, the need for charging stations is a barrier for users and for those hesitating. We are thus relieved to see many companies deploying their solutions, including Electra very recently.

One station per week by the end of 2022

Electra is a young French company founded in 2021. It was established by Aurélien de Meaux, Augustin Derville, and Julien Belliato, three entrepreneurs committed to accelerating the energy transition. The company inaugurated its very first fast charging station on January 31st, in Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis).

Initially at a pace of 2 stations per month, Electra hopes to double this to one station per week by the end of the year. Its ultimate goal is to reach the symbolic figure of 1,000 stations by 2030, a significant ambition.

Power and also the experience

Before that, let’s return to the first station in Aubervilliers. While it doesn’t match the status of Shell’s charging station, Electra still offers fast-charging terminals there. In CCS format, you’ll find a 150 kW charger, another with a second Type 2 connector of 22 kW, and a third reaching 225 kW. Electra states that future stations will deliver up to 300 kW of power.

The chargers can automatically reallocate power depending on the vehicles plugged in. Electra gives the example of a 150 kW charging station, where a ZOE limited to 50 kW would leave 100 kW available for the Renault Mégane E-Tech on the second port.

Beyond the charging itself, Electra aims to improve the user experience. This includes a mobile app where users can reserve a charging stall remotely within a 10-minute window. To prevent congestion at stations, an algorithm could regulate vehicle distribution across different stations based on various parameters (charge level, power, and usage).

The app also features direct payment (with NFC-enabled phones) and the ability to be redirected to the nearest station.

The cost of charging at Electra

The rate for fast charging stations is the same for everyone. For individuals, it costs €0.44/kWh, slightly more expensive than Tesla Superchargers (€0.36/kWh) or Norauto’s DBT R3 stations (€0.39/kWh). Note that Lidl offers charging on its fast chargers, up to 120 kW. The same rate of €0.44/kWh applies on various apps like ChargeMap.

For professionals, the cost of Electra charging is €0.37/kWh excluding taxes, with additional professional subscriptions reducing the price to as low as €0.24/kWh.

After Aubervilliers, Electra aims to expand the network in the Île-de-France region. Currently, 7 other stations are planned, including at Roissy, Les Ulis, or Aubergenville. Additional sites are scheduled for Bordeaux, Beaune, Bron (near Lyon), and Prévessins-Moëns on the Swiss border.

Also read: Allego opens its first fast-charging stations on highways