#IFattiContano (The Facts Count): Enel X Way and its commitment to extensive, sustainable and accessible electric mobility for all

Facts count and they underline the fundamental role Enel X Way is playing in the expansion of electric mobility, with 360° solutions aimed at surmounting any obstacles that inhibit the use of battery-powered vehicles to enable an open approach that puts people's well-being first. Indeed, although our business unit was only established recently, it represents the natural evolution of the experience and background that the Enel Group has been developing in this sector since as far back as 2009. This process began with the Open Power strategy which, by leveraging the concepts of diversity and inclusion, fully involves every employee in our continuous innovation process. Moreover, we're also talking about a background that even extends to motorsport, where we’re playing a key role in promoting and developing sustainable mobility as the Official Charging Partner for Formula E and MotoE, as well as for the adventurous Extreme E championship

The process that’s currently underway sees Enel X Way as a major player in this revolution, with over 16,000 public charging points for electric cars already installed in Italy (some still in the process of being activated) and almost 25,000 private charging points. Numbers that already make Enel X Way a sector leader in Italy and that provide testament to great ambitions for the future: in the “Boot” alone, as many as 135,000 charging points will be installed in 2024, with an incredible 1.1 million worldwide. This will then increase to the objective of more than five million in 2030, so as to be ready well in advance of the 2035 deadline, when internal combustion engine vehicles are due to start being phased out in Europe.

#TheFactsCount because we’re facilitators of sustainable mobility, and these are more than just words: the public charging infrastructure that we operate delivers clean energy only, i.e., only energy from renewable sources. Indeed, even since the beginning of 2022, Enel has already produced more than 13 billion kWh of energy from renewables. And that’s not all, the objective is to reach 80 per cent from renewables by 2030, rising to 100 per cent by 2040, a decade ahead of the Net-Zero target. 

However, the rapid development in sustainable mobility wouldn't be possible without the help of large companies and institutions. Starting with the latter, a memorandum of understanding between the Sardinia Regional Council and Enel X Way will bring about the installation of numerous charging points on the island. It will also support SMEs looking to equip their parking lots with public charging facilities by submitting an application to the recent regional call for applications. Furthermore, our company has recently been awarded a contract for 60 charging stations in the municipality of Naples, while in Portofino we’re also looking to support the nautical sector: discussions with the local administration have resulted in the inauguration of charging infrastructure for electric boats on the Umberto I pier. This is in addition to the charging infrastructure for battery-powered cars that already exists in the municipality, providing further evidence of our desire to focus on mobility that’s increasingly integrated.

Regarding synergies with large companies aimed at expanding the charging infrastructure so as to make it accessible to everyone, albeit in private areas, the partnership with McDonald's has resulted in the installation of many charging points across Italy. As many as 114, out of the 200 planned, are already located in the well-known chain’s parking lots, not to mention the many that have been connected in Spain (more than 156, plus 80 awaiting activation, and another 150 are on the way) by Endesa X Way at the American giant’s restaurants. Moreover, agreements with Leroy Merlin (a French home improvement and gardening chain) and Mondo Convenienza (an Italian furniture chain) will further expand the number of these chains’ megastores that are served by our rapid infrastructure.

It’s true to say that the development of electric mobility wouldn't be possible without enabling rapid refueling, something that’s essential for those looking to use their electric cars for long highway trips. And that’s why our focus in the coming years will include the increasingly widespread availability of such infrastructure, as demonstrated by the joint venture with Volkswagen, a partnership that will lead to the production and installation of as many as 3,000 HPC charging stations in Italy. With these numbers, “charging station” or range anxiety will become a thing of the past, even for those using reduced autonomy electric vehicles. It was from some of the ultrafast charging stations that our experimentation with contactless credit or bank card payments came about, as an alternative to managing charging operations by using an app or RFID card, thus making the charging experience very similar to that of “gas” or diesel refueling. 

Finally, the mass expansion of electric mobility would be impossible without an adequate private infrastructure, whether it be for homes or businesses. It is to this end that Enel X Way has already installed more than 25.817 home or business charging points across Italy, thanks to its portfolio of products, solutions and pricing plans that are suited to all needs. Also in this case, using renewable sources to provide the electricity becomes crucial to making electric mobility a truly sustainable solution. And since the facts count, Enel is once again shown to be playing a leading role, with over 1,06 million private generation systems (photovoltaic, but also micro-wind, etc.) already connected to the grid, not to mention the 198 new requests received since the beginning of 2022.

_{Data for the country Italy updated at the end of August 2022.}