Zunder accelerates in Portugal: it will invest over 10 million euros per year to fill the country with ultra-fast charging stations
Zunder has decided to accelerate its growth in Portugal. The Spanish company took advantage of the opening of its new ultra-fast charging station in Caldas da Rainha to announce an ambitious expansion plan that includes investing over 10 million euros annually for the next four years.
The new station is located near exit 19 of the A8 highway, one of the main routes between Lisbon and Porto, and represents a significant step forward in electrifying heavy transport in Portugal. It features 12 charging points with capacities of up to 400 kW, spaces designed specifically for heavy vehicles, as well as areas for electric cars. The facility also includes a large photovoltaic canopy.
The inauguration event was attended by Cristina Pinto Dias, Secretary of State for Mobility of Portugal, Vítor Marques, mayor of the Municipality of Caldas da Rainha, and Daniel Pérez, CEO and co-founder of Zunder. The location was not chosen by chance: the A8 highway connects Lisbon to Porto along the coast and is one of the country’s main transportation routes.
Caldas da Rainha station is also Zunder’s first infrastructure in Portugal specifically designed for heavy vehicle charging. The 12 chargers have a capacity of up to 400 kW and are intended to serve electric cars as well as trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. The company confirms that the facility is ready to offer charging via bank card, and that the photovoltaic canopy is part of the station’s design.
Zunder’s investment in Portugal goes far beyond this single station. The company began operating in the country as a distributor of electricity for electric mobility in 2023, and it has significantly accelerated its expansion throughout 2026. In fact, it opened an ultra-fast charging station in Marinhas in July, with additional locations such as Valença, Gaia, Matosinhos, Caldas da Rainha, and Olhão also on its agenda.
The plan announced now significantly raises the stakes. Zunder has already invested between 6 and 7 million euros to develop its first seven stations in Portugal, with plans to maintain an annual investment of over 10 million euros for the next four years. Additionally, the company has eight more projects scheduled for 2027, along with 17 sites currently in various stages of approval.
The goal is to build a network that goes beyond large cities, connecting Portugal’s main mobility corridors with high-capacity stations. This strategy is particularly important now as the growth of electric vehicles begins to shift part of the focus from vehicle availability to the infrastructure needed for long-distance travel.
Zunder enters this new phase with a significantly larger network than it had just a few years ago. The company currently operates over 1,500 charging points in Spain and France, along with 220 high-power stations, while continuing to expand its presence in Portugal. It has also introduced Kawat to the Portuguese market, its platform for managing and operating third-party charging infrastructure.
This expansion is also backed by financial support obtained by Zunder in 2024. The company secured a green loan of 225 million euros from Banco Santander to fund its growth in Europe, with a plan to deploy over 3,000 charging points, particularly in Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy.
Portugal thus becomes one of the company’s priority markets. Zunder aims to capitalize on the growth of electric vehicles in the country while also positioning itself in a more demanding sector: heavy transportation. For electric trucks, having stations capable of providing several hundred kilowatts and with sufficient space for maneuvering is far more important than simply increasing the number of urban charging points.
The company also focuses on the user experience. Its strategy involves combining high-power charging stations, an app that provides network access through interoperability agreements, and tools like Kawat for businesses and institutions. In Portugal, Zunder claims it aims to offer an experience similar to those already developed in Spain and France, with transparent pricing, various payment options, and stations capable of serving both cars and heavy vehicles.
The move comes at a time when Portugal is working on a new regulatory framework for charging infrastructure, with particular focus on interoperability between operators and removing barriers for users. For Zunder, a more open market with greater competition can facilitate the expansion of networks while reducing reliance on closed systems.
The new station in Caldas da Rainha is therefore much more than just another charging point. It demonstrates where Zunder aims to take its business in Portugal: a network of ultra-fast stations located along the country’s main corridors, also prepared for heavy transport. With an annual investment of over 10 million euros over the next four years, the company makes it clear that its goal is not to have a mere symbolic presence in the Portuguese market.
Summary Table
Data
Zunder in Portugal
Planned annual investment
Over 10 million euros
Period
Next 4 years
Investment already made
6-7 million euros
First stations under development
7
Projects planned for 2027
8
Sites under consideration
17
New station
Caldas da Rainha
Charging points
12
Maximum power
400 kW
Heavy vehicles
Yes
Location
Exit 19 from A8
Solar canopy
Yes