Orlen Unipetrol Group is expanding its Benzina Orlen network with electricity from fast-charging stations.
Benzina Orlen provides energy from ČEZ green stations in ten regions throughout the Czech Republic.
Last year, drivers charged up with enough energy to enable 40 trips around the world.
In collaboration with the ČEZ Group, Orlen Unipetrol is equipping its sites with fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. The latest one, in Jihlava, is the 30th ČEZ station for charging e-cars.
“In addition to traditional fuels, we offer alternative fuels, LPG and CNG,” said Orlen Unipetrol Group chairman, Tomasz Wiatrak.
“And, in cooperation with external partners, we are gradually expanding our electricity offer, which currently stands at 38 locations countrywide. In total, there are 62 charging stations at our outlets, where almost 100 cars can be charged at the same time.
“With the parent Orlen Unipetrol Group, we are also active in the development of hydrogen electromobility. It will complement the existing battery-based electromobility by opening the first public hydrogen refuelling stations in the Czech Republic in Prague-Barrandov and Litvínov.”
For his part, ČEZ vice-chairman, Pavel Cyrani, added: “The coming years in the Czech Republic will be characterised by the rapid development of electromobility. The demand of tens of thousands of new electric cars for fast charging will be covered only by building hundreds of new charging stations.
“As market leader, ČEZ is not shirking its responsibility and wants to expand its existing network of 300 public charging stations to more than 800 in five years. We believe our continued successful collaboration with Benzina Orlen will also help us reach this objective.”
There are 30 ČEZ fast-charging stations in operation at 22 Benzina Orlen stations across the Czech Republic. Electric-vehicle drivers use them on the D1, D2, D4, D5, D6, D8 and D11 motorways and other main throughways and in some cities.
The ABB fast-charging stations installed in the Benzina Orlen network can charge batteries of most types and brands of electric vehicles. Thanks to DC connectors with CHAdeMO and CCS charging standards with an output of up to 50 kW, they can do so within tens of minutes. The charging station also includes AC charging with a Mennekes standard connector, which allows charging with an output of 22 kW.
The construction of the ČEZ charging station network is partially funded by two grants from the European CEF Transport programme, where ČEZ succeeded in calls for proposals. The European Commission is supporting by building charging stations along the main TEN-T road network.
Part of the network is also being built using the funds from the Operational Programme Transport and ČEZ’s own sources.
https://www.cez.cz/en/media/press-releases/orlen-unipetrol-and-cez-quickly-expand-benzina-orlens-offer-with-electricity.-the-30th-fast-charging-station-is-in-jihlava-147670