The first 30 charging stations of the Eva+ project have been installed, distributed from Milan to Rome, one every 60 km. A full charge in 20 minutes.
It is the first fast-charging network installed in our country, capable of covering the Milan–Rome route and, in effect, electrifying it. Eva+, as the project is called, has installed and made operational the first 30 Fast Recharge stations at as many charging points, along the stretch that runs from Cormano (in the province of Milan) to the Grande Raccordo Anulare in Rome.
The initiative, co-funded by the European Community, involves Enel as coordinator, Verbund (one of Austria's leading utilities), together with some of the major car manufacturers that have been investing in electric mobility in recent years. The aim is to install, over three years, along extra-urban routes, 200 charging stations — 180 in Italy and 20 in Austria.
"We have started with a programme that will equip the country with a modern and widespread infrastructure," said Francesco Venturini, director of Enel's global e-solutions division, at the Cormano station during the official inauguration on 17 October. "The first 30 charging stations installed as part of the Eva+ project, including this one we are inaugurating today with Gruppo api, make it possible to charge an electric car even in extra-urban areas and in a short time, so as to allow the use of electric vehicles not only in the city but also for longer journeys such as the Rome–Milan route."
The stations have been installed close to motorway junctions or near hotels, restaurants and outlets. They offer up to 50 kW of DC power (direct current), while in AC (alternating current) they reach 43 kW. The stations have both connectors currently in use, meaning it is possible to connect both Japanese and Asian brands and European ones. Alternatively, it is also possible to use one's own cable, though in this case the power delivered is 22 kW, which will increase waiting times.
To carry out a charge, Enel has made an app available, the Enel e-Go: via GPS it locates which station you are about to use and "opens the switch," again from the phone. Alternatively, it is possible to activate the classic Rfid card and use it directly via an optical reader. The cost of the Fast Recharge stations is €13 per hour (€0.216 per minute). The cost of a "full charge" will depend on the battery capacity of the car. For a 25 kW battery, assuming a 50 kW output, in half an hour you will have a full charge from zero, at a cost of €6.50. From 15 January the rate will rise to €0.366 per minute (for a 41 kW car the cost will be just over €18). A short stop is all it takes, and you can set off again without any range anxiety.
