These are the 8 new fast-charging stations bid for by the Government: 610,000,000 € to facilitate travel on the A-2, A-3, A-4, and AP-7.
The government has authorized the bidding for six concession contracts to build and operate eight new service areas on Spanish roads, with the unique feature that they will be equipped with ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles, thereby improving the charging network for battery-powered cars.
The project is estimated to cost 611.9 million euros, excluding VAT, and aims to facilitate long-distance travel by electric vehicles; therefore, the facilities will be located along five major roads in the State Road Network: the motorways A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-8, as well as the highway AP-7.
Located on the main arteries of the network
This initiative is part of a pilot program by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, with a total of eight service areas planned, five of which will have facilities on both sides of the road. The selected sites are on state-owned land that was underutilized and will now be used to develop new infrastructure for drivers.
One of the stations will be located in Calatayud, Zaragoza, at kilometer 234 of the A-2 highway. The facility will be situated on the left side of the motorway, with an estimated construction cost of 6.52 million euros. It will facilitate travel between the capital, Aragon, and Catalonia.
The A-3 highway will receive two of the new service areas. The first will be located in Perales de Tajuña, Madrid, at kilometer 35 on the left bank, with a budget of 6.66 million euros. The second will be built in Saelices, Cuenca, at kilometer 99, with facilities planned on both banks and an estimated investment of 15.71 million euros. These will enhance the charging options along one of the main routes connecting Madrid to the Mediterranean.
On the A-4 highway, the project includes a service area in Montoro, Córdoba province, at kilometer 353, serving as a key route toward the south. The facility will have charging stations on both banks, with a construction budget of 16.30 million euros.
The AP-7 will also feature a new area in Algemesí, Valencia, at kilometer 541, again on both sides of the road, with a budget of 15.82 million euros. These projects include La Roca del Vallès in Barcelona, at kilometer 129 of the AP-7, plus two more locations on the A-8: La Caridad in Asturias and Penagos in Cantabria.
20 to 25 years of operation
The deployment will be carried out through construction concessions. The winning companies will need to prepare the projects, obtain approval from the General Directorate of Roads, finance and execute the construction work, and subsequently operate the facilities for a period of 20 to 25 years, in exchange for paying a fee to the authorities. Of the estimated total value of 611.9 million euros for all contracts, around 78 million euros, excluding VAT, is allocated to the initial construction of the service areas.
The Council of Ministers states that “this initiative aligns with the goals of reducing transportation emissions and helps fulfill Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure (AFIR).” Its aim is to accelerate the decarbonization of road transport and improve charging availability for electric vehicle users, especially on highways where traffic jams sometimes occur during peak travel times such as holidays due to high charging demand.