The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is developing the first pilot program to install in the State Road Network service areas equipped with ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles.
The main objective of this pilot program is to contribute to the decarbonization of the transport sector, catalyze private investment in electric charging infrastructures by providing a stable framework for the installation and operation of charging points, and improve the offer of services to the user on state roads.
The program will be deployed through concession contracts for works that manage to transform underused land owned by the General Directorate of Roads (rest areas, storage areas, service areas that will be deserted in their respective tenders or old toll beaches of reverted highways) into new service areas in which, in addition to the cafeteria and restaurant services, the ultra-fast charging service for electric vehicles is exclusively provided.
It is planned to build eight service areas in the State Road Network, distributed throughout the Spanish territory:
- La Caridad (right margin), in the province of Asturias, on the right margin of km 490 of the A-8 motorway.
- Penagos, in the province of Cantabria, on both margins of km 208.5 of the A-8 motorway.
- Calatayud, in the province of Zaragoza, on the left bank of km 234 of the A-2 motorway.
- Montoro, in the province of Córdoba, on both margins of km 353 of the A-4 motorway.
- Perales de Tajuña, in the province of Madrid, on the left bank of km 35 of the A-3 motorway.
- Saelices, in the province of Cuenca, on both margins of km 99 of the A-3 motorway.
- Algemesí, in the province of Valencia, on both margins of km 541 of the AP-7 motorway.
- La Roca del Vallés, in the province of Barcelona, on both margins of km 129 of the AP-7 motorway.
This programme is aligned with the objectives of reducing emissions from transport and contributes to compliance with Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the implementation of infrastructures for alternative fuels (AFIR).
First preliminary projects
To date, the Ministry of Transport has already provisionally approved the first preliminary projects for the construction and operation of the service areas located in the municipalities of Montoro, Algemesí, Perales de Tajuña and Penagos. Soon, they will be submitted to the public information process together with the feasibility studies of the proceedings, which involves the publication of the corresponding announcements in the Official State Gazette.
The budgets of these works have been estimated at 16.3 million euros in Montoro, 15.9 million euros in Algemesí, 6.7 million euros in Perales de Tajuña and 11.2 million in Penagos. In total, it will involve an investment of 50.1 million euros (VAT included).
In addition to the ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles and the access vials from the motorways and motorways, these locations will have free parking areas for light and heavy vehicles, shop buildings, catering and food and drink supply through automatic vending machines and free and free access, toilets, green areas and children's play area.
The stations will be located on an approximate surface of 51,200 m2 in Montoro, 31,600 m2 in Algemesí, 12,000 m2 in Perales de Tajuña and 47,500 m2 in Penagos.
In addition, the General Directorate of Roads has obtained a permit for access and connection to the electricity distribution network for each location with a power of 3,000 kW in cases where the stations are located on the two margins of the roads, and 1,600 kW in cases where it is only installed on one.
Next steps
In the coming months, the remaining preliminary projects of the service areas of La Caridad, Calatayud, Saelices, Algemesí and La Roca del Vallés will be provisionally approved and submitted to public information. Once they are published in BOE and the corresponding allegations are collected and studied, they will be definitively approved.
After this step, the concession contracts will be tendered, awarded and formalized and the construction projects of the service areas will be drafted by the concessionaires. Finally, once the projects are approved by the General Directorate of Roads, the works will be executed.
This pioneering project aims to be an initial impulse promoted by the Ministry, with the collaboration of the private company, to provide Spanish roads with electric charging points and thus facilitate the transition of road traffic from motorways and highways to non-fossil fuels. Once the eight stations have been built and their impact measured, the General Directorate of Roads will evaluate the possibility of implementing new projects of this type that contribute to the decarbonization of road transport.