Up to 35,000 new smart car charging points in the Netherlands

Vattenfall InCharge will install and manage the charging points in the Netherlands over the next four years.

MRA-Elektrisch has issued a tender for 74 Dutch municipalities, with charging stations operating as early as mid-2024.

Vattenfall say their charging stations support smart charging to take into account the overloaded grid. The charging sessions can then be adjusted according to the grid load or power price.

The company, which is running the project alongside two other operators, can then temporarily reduce the power of the charging stations at those specific spots on the grid where the demand for electricity is too high at times, such as the early evening.

Accordingly, their smart charging algorithm also ensures charging when power prices are low, based on prices of the day-ahead power market, which will happen automatically.

Pieter van Ommeren, Managing Director Vattenfall InCharge Netherlands, says, 'We are extremely happy to have won the tender and to be able to work with Shell ubitricity and TotalEnergies to contribute to the sustainability goals of the provinces involved. With smart charging technology, easy payment options for electric drivers and customisation for municipalities, we want to make electric driving easy and affordable for everyone.'