07.07.2015
ORLEN opens up to e-fuelling
Electric car quick recharging points will appear at the ‘star’ service stations in Germany, with similar facilities also to be installed at the ORLEN Group’s stations in Poland and the Czech Republic later this year. This has been made possible thanks to PKN ORLEN’s collaboration with Tesla, a US-based manufacturer of electric cars and a leader in quick charging technologies.
The first recharging points will come into service by the end of August 2015 at ORLEN Deutschland’s ‘star’ service stations. The stations located in Grimmen (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and Uckerfelde (Brandenburg), near the border with Poland, are currently being equipped by Tesla with the world’s fastest charging ports, which can be used by four vehicles simultaneously. With these ‘Supercharger’ points, Tesla Model S cars can be recharged for free in less than 30 minutes, which gives them a range of as much as 270 kilometres. A 40-minute session will charge the battery up to 80%, and a 75-minute one will enable a full charge. With a fully-charged battery, the car’s range is 460 kilometres.
For many years, we have kept a close eye on the latest trends and developed innovative business segments. Without a doubt, the manufacture of emission-free and low-emission vehicles is a trend gaining more and more traction in the global automotive industry. Our partnership with Tesla, a leading manufacturer of electric cars, is our way of adapting to the changes ahead. Marking the next step in securing our competitive advantage, it is also a friendly gesture towards our customers, who value alternative mobile solutions which protect natural resources - said Marek Podstawa, Member of the PKN ORLEN Management Board, Sales.
Analyses are being carried out to launch pilot recharging stations in Poland and the Czech Republic, with final decisions due by the end of this year.
Worldwide sales of electric vehicles amount to about 300,000 per year, and the global charging network already consists of close to 100,000 stations, including 22,000 in Europe. According to experts, global annual sales in the segment are expected to reach 7 million in 2020 (10% of total passenger car sales), and the network of charging stations will expand to several million.
