Record Power Output for the New Yaway Charging Station

Kallista Energy has inaugurated its very first Yaway electric vehicle charging station, becoming the fastest in France.

The infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is rapidly advancing in France. According to Avere-France, the number of charging points reached nearly 70,000 in August 2022. A significant increase of 50% in one year. But fast charging is also evolving at a fascinating pace with the new player Yaway.

A first Yaway pilot station

Rather than quantity, Kallista Energy focuses on charging speed. This company, initially specialized in renewable energy production via wind turbines and solar panels, has shifted into this activity. It has already deployed 80 stations across Europe and is now starting in France. These locations operate under the name Yaway.

The first pilot station opened in Vernon-Douains in Normandy on September 22. It will “allow feedback from users to provide the best service for drivers, regardless of their vehicle’s brand and model,” says Johann Tardy, General Manager of Kallista Energy. The station initially has 2 charging stations with 2 points each. They will soon double to 4 points per station.

Charging Power Up to 360 kW

In addition to a first, the Yaway station sets a record by using 360 kW “Terra 360” chargers from Swiss manufacturer ABB E-Mobility. This surpasses the 350 kW from Ionity (also ABB chargers) and the 300 kW from Fastned (Allego chargers).

However, no vehicle can currently recharge that quickly. The Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan reach up to 270 kW, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y up to 250 kW, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 at 239 kW. Perhaps the new Xpeng G9, a Chinese electric SUV potentially for Europe, will test these chargers because it accepts a power of 450 kW. In theory, cars could recover 100 km of range in just 3 minutes.

How Much Does It Cost to Recharge Electric Cars at Yaway?

The company plans to have 90 stations across France, with the first opening in 2023. An advantage: the price. The first station offers a rate of €0.55/minute, due to its unverified meter. “As soon as possible, Yaway stations will offer billing by kWh,” assures the company. This is therefore lower than the €0.79/min at Ionity, while others bill per kWh: €0.83/kWh at Fastned or €0.98/kWh at Allego starting October 7.

Next year, in 2024, stations directly connected to wind turbines will appear. According to Yaway, they will enable “offering competitive charging rates.” The company explains the absence of wind turbines at the Vernon-Douains station due to “proximity to the Évreux Air Base 105.”

The stations near military sites or weather radar installations will also lack wind turbines. They will remain powered by 100% renewable energy — in theory, as electricity tracking isn’t possible — via Yamay Connect.

Also read: Fast Charging: Electra Increases Power