Construction work begins on the first four fast charging stations with Storm
Mobility player Q8 and renewable energy company Storm have broken ground on the first four fast charging stations, which will be opening in July. These will be located in East Flanders at car pool car parks in Waasmunster (on the E17) and Aalter (on the E40), in Limburg at the car pool car park in Paal-Beringen (on the E313) and in Flemish Brabant at the junction between Haachtsesteenweg and Leuvensesteenweg in Kampenhout. The fast charging stations are among the first of a total of 200 that will be built in Belgium over the next few years. Around half of these will also include a shop and restaurant.
Innovation Director Sven Dochez and Jan Caerts, CEO of Storm picked up their spades today for the official groundbreaking ceremony for these brand-new fast charging stations.
“This is a great first step towards the expansion of our fast charging network across Belgium. The first few stations provide a perfect example of the kind of locations we are looking for: right next to the motorway and at junctions between busy regional roads. The building work will be completed quickly. We are planning to be operational by mid-July,” Sven Dochez and Jan Caerts concluded.
Ultra-fast charging at 400kW
The fast charging station in Kampenhout provides charging for four cars with a total capacity of up to 400kW, while the Beringen station can accommodate six cars and those at Waasmunster and Aalter can take ten cars each. An average car with a 50 kWh battery can achieve an 80% state of charge in 15 to 20 minutes. Slow charging is available too. Waasmunster provides slow charging for two cars, while the other stations can take four each. “We offer this option to allow people to leave their cars in the car park for longer periods,” Sven Dochez explains.
The individual charging bays are large enough to be used by light trucks and vans too. All the charging bays are suitable for people with a disability. Payments can be made using all popular charging cards, the Q8 electric app or any debit or credit card.
The charging stations also have camera surveillance and bench seating.
100% renewable energy
The fast charging stations will deliver 100% renewable energy, generated in Belgium. Designed by young Ghent-based architecture firm Martens Van Caimere Architecten, they are built from sustainable, natural materials such as wood. They will also have permeable paving, green landscaping, a green roof and solar panels.
About Q8
Q8 is one of the largest operators in the fuel sector in Belgium, with more than 465 service stations and a network of over 120 local 'Shop&Go' convenience stores nationwide, run in partnership with Delhaize and Panos. With HVO100, CNG, LNG and Q8 electric, Q8 is also strongly committed to more sustainable mobility. Since Q8 launched Q8 electric three years ago, it has been rapidly expanding its charging network. The Q8 charging pass and app offer access to over 400,000 charging points throughout Europe and almost all the charging points in the Benelux region. Q8 currently has 46 stations in the Benelux with fast chargers, and this number will increase to more than 250 in the next five years. Q8 is continuing to work hard on its transformation into a sustainable mobility player.
About Storm
Storm is a Belgian renewable energy projects developer and operator. Since 2008, Storm has completed onshore wind farms with a total value in excess of €350 million. Storm's key investment partners are the Flemish investment company PMV and a number of Belgian infrastructure investors, including publicly listed company TINC. Storm's ambition is to continue working in the coming years towards a more rapid energy transition in Belgium. To achieve this, the company is currently planning installations including dozens of new wind turbines, several large-scale battery storage projects and a fast-charging network in partnership with Q8.