In Belgium, each region is responsible for achieving the objectives that Europe has imposed on the federal government for the development of a network of fast charging points. As for Wallonia, Sofico recently announced the next steps in its plan for the rollout of fast charging points.
The biggest challenge for Sofico is the lack of available electricity near the highways. However, a series of agreements have been concluded with distribution system operators such as ORES and RESA to specifically strengthen electricity capacity along the Walloon motorway network. This reinforcement will be phased in over the next five years at Type 1 and Type 2 parking lots, as well as certain cross-border parking lots, to meet the requirements of the upcoming AFIR milestones.
Thanks to the additional available electricity capacity, Sofico will be able to appoint future concessionaires for electric charging services at the various parking lots involved. Each concession area must offer services that meet the requirements of the AFIR Regulation and the standards in force in Wallonia in terms of equipment and services to users. In this context, Sofico also announces the development of safe and secure parking spaces for truck drivers, as well as the expansion of the number of available parking spaces in the existing parking lots.
