Iberdrola has started to roll out a network of charging stations for electric vehicles at its corporate offices

The company, which intends to acquire electric cars for employees to use for business during the coming year, will install this type of infrastructure in all its work centres.

These charging stations, manufactured by the Malaga-based company Práctica Tecnología and Circutor Group in Catalonia, are part of Iberdrola’s focus in electric mobility and underlines its firm commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and sustainable development.

The company’s interest in promoting electric cars goes back more than 10 years, when it participated on projects such: ‘Project Zeus’ between 1996 and 1998 with the Mondragón Group; ‘Project Viel’, conducted at its centre in San Agustín de Guadalix between 2002 and 2004; and a pilot project backed by the Valladolid City Council to introduce electric motorcycles and the necessary charging points.

Iberdrola is currently involved in a number of electric car-related projects, including ‘Project Cenit Verde’, in conjunction with Seat, to develop Spanish electric transport technology; or ‘Project Merge’ (Mobile Energy Resources of Electricity) to analyse the impact the introduction of these cars has on current and future electricity distribution networks.

In Spain, Iberdrola participates on ‘Project EPV’ (Electrical Powered Vehicles), which aims to introduce electric cars into the urban transport mix in the Valencia region. It is also looking into joint projects with Renault and will oversee the development of the infrastructure needed to charge all the prototype electric vehicles that the various departments of the Castilla y Leon regional government intend to use.

Outside of Spain, the company, through its subsidiary ScottishPower, is participating in a project focused on providing the necessary electricity infrastructure to use electric vehicles in Glasgow. Meanwhile, in the US, Iberdrola U.S.A. is working on an initiative related to electric trucks.

These projects come on top of the studies being conducting alongside General Motors Europe to analyse the technical requirements of the energy supply infrastructures needed for electric cars, its collaboration with international groups on the standardisation of charging parameters, and its involvement in prestigious forums such as Foreve in Spain and GreenCars in Europe.

Iberdrola to be involved in the ‘Movele Plan’ in Madrid

Iberdrola is on the verge of signing an agreement with the Madrid City Council to implement the ‘Movele Plan’ aimed at boosting electric transport in this city. The company and its partners will be responsible for installing and managing a network of 280 charging stations around the capital.

This plan was launched by the government at the start of this year and is designed to boost electric mobility in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Industry has established that 280, 191 and 75 charging points will be installed in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, respectively. The initiative will also promote support for purchasing this type of vehicle.

Iberdrola will focus future investments on developing technologies with zero greenhouse gas emissions. It has already established the foundations for meeting this challenge with world leadership in wind energy and a project pipeline of 57 GW.

Iberdrola is the global leader in wind power, ending the third quarter of 2009 with installed capacity of 10,477 MW and the industry’s largest pipeline (57,400 MW).

www.iberdrola.es