Electric Vehicle Charging Expands to Shopping Centers, Addressing Grid Concerns & Price Competition
EDE, Netherlands - Dutch consumers will soon have more options for quickly charging their electric vehicles, as charging companies expand fast-charging infrastructure to shopping centers and supermarkets. This move, already common in France and Belgium, marks a shift in the Netherlands, wich initially focused on widespread, slower charging points. Allego currently operates fast chargers in Amsterdam, Ede, and Rosmalen, with Albert heijn, Jumbo, and Plus supermarkets planning significant expansions in the coming years.
While the Netherlands was an early adopter of EV charging infrastructure, the advancement of fast chargers lagged. The country’s existing network of slower charging posts predates the technology. Now, operators like Allego are partnering with major retailers – including French chain Carrefour – to offer convenient, rapid charging solutions. This expansion comes as grid capacity becomes a growing concern with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles.
A key strategy to mitigate grid strain involves pairing fast chargers with on-site battery storage. these batteries can buffer electricity demand, reducing the load on the grid during peak times and storing surplus energy for later use.
“Fast chargers are more efficient, because many more people can use it daily because the loading time is relatively short,” explains Jules Sommer, General Director of Allego Nederland.
Currently,fast charging tends to be more expensive than slower residential charging. Tho,increased competition within the fast-charging market is expected to drive down prices,a factor becoming increasingly crucial as more private vehicle owners – unlike those with company cars who benefit from employer-provided charging - directly bear the cost of electricity.
