TotalEnergies secures concession for charging stations in Zeeland and South Holland
43 municipalities in the Dutch provinces of South Holland and Zeeland have awarded new regional concessions for public charging infrastructure. TotalEnergies Public Charging and Velian were awarded the contract, involving thousands of charging points.
Image: Velian
Both charging providers will take over existing charging stations and build new ones in the respective municipalities. However, it is important to note that the two major cities of The Hague and Rotterdam, both located in South Holland, are not part of this concession and tender their charging infrastructure separately.
For the 43 municipalities in South Holland and Zeeland, TotalEnergies states that the concession includes the acquisition and modernisation of around 1,860 existing charging stations, as well as the introduction of thousands of new charging stations in the coming years to meet the growing demand for electric mobility.
TotalEnergies has also announced that it has been awarded the contract for a total of 60 per cent of the tendered charging infrastructure. Consequently, Velian must have secured the remaining 40 per cent, though no specific figures are provided. Velian is the successor to Equans Infra & Mobility, a charging provider that emerged from the French Engie Group. Since May, Velian has been owned by the companies Aberdeen Investments and DigitalBridge.
TotalEnergies and Velian to display charging prices directly on screen
The two provinces promise lower charging prices for electric vehicle drivers through the awarding of the charging infrastructure. All new charging stations will be equipped with a digital display where users can view the charging costs. This makes it easier to determine the price of a charging session in advance. The costs will also be displayed transparently during and after the charging process.
At the same time, drivers should also be able to pay without a charging card via ad hoc payment — and at least TotalEnergies states that this will work directly via contactless card or smartphone, without the need for a QR code. The screen will provide information on direct payment without a charging card, as well as the tariffs of common charging cards, according to the Province of Zeeland. This is meant to make public charging not only cheaper but also simpler and more transparent.
“In Zeeland, we often cover considerable distances. People must be able to trust that charging is simple and affordable. With this concession, we are taking an important step in this direction. We are making electric driving more attractive for residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors to Zeeland,” says Harry van der Maas, member of the Provincial Executive.
As part of the concession, TotalEnergies and Velian will also implement smart charging and dynamic pricing, according to the Province of Zeeland. This means that during high grid utilisation, charging capacity will be temporarily reduced. Conversely, the charging process can be accelerated when sufficient capacity is available in the grid. Lower prices will also make charging more attractive during times when ample electricity is available.